"Evenepoel and Lipowitz could work together how Vingegaard and Roglic once did" - Jose De Cauwer sees great potential in Red Bull leadership duo

Jose De Cauwer believes Remco Evenepoel’s 2026 project with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has the potential to mirror one of the most effective Grand Tour partnerships of recent years.

Rather than dwelling on disappointment from fans who hoped for a more spectacular racing calendar, he sees the new structure around Evenepoel as a competitive advantage.

Speaking in quotes collected by Sporza, De Cauwer said the dynamic between Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz could evolve in a similar way to the former Jumbo Visma tandem during their dominance of the Tour de France. “I would say 65 35. I think Evenepoel Lipowitz can work the same as the Vingegaard Roglic tandem did at the time. Together they made Pogacar overreach.”

For De Cauwer, this is no small comparison. The dual leadership of Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard once created tactical pressure that Tadej Pogacar struggled to manage. Evenepoel and Lipowitz, he argues, may now offer Red Bull a similarly potent formula.

Much of the early reaction to Evenepoel’s 2026 plan focused on the notable absences. There will be no Milano-Sanremo, no Tour of Flanders and no Giro d’Italia. Many Belgian fans expected at least one headline spring Classic, only to learn he will limit himself to Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege.

De Cauwer, however, is unmoved by the emotional response. “I also got caught up in the supporters’ story of ‘we would like him to ride this and we would like him to ride that’. You always hope for the most spectacular.”

From the outside it may feel conservative, but he sees clear logic. “The big goal for Evenepoel and for his team is to win the Tour de France. Or at least to try. They want to avoid getting to July and hitting themselves over the head because Remco has raced too much or taken too many risks.”

He also points out that Evenepoel has reached a point in his career where he cannot simply turn up to a monument without being expected to race at the front. “Evenepoel has now become such a rider that he cannot come to the Tour of Flanders just to take part. If he comes, he has to fight. Otherwise it is stupid to take those risks.”

Despite the rise of all round superstars such as Tadej Pogacar, De Cauwer insists that Evenepoel should not be judged against an exception. “We come from a period in which Grand Tour riders rode very few Classics. But now there is Pogacar who does everything. We all think that is great. But if Pogacar did not do this, we would not even be talking about it.”

He also notes that Jonas Vingegaard does not overload his season with Classics either, and remains a more immediate benchmark for Evenepoel to surpass. “Vingegaard does not do that either and he is the one Evenepoel must try to get past first if he wants to move up in the hierarchy.”

De Cauwer expects Evenepoel to begin the Tour as the team’s primary leader, though not alone. His 65 35 framing places Lipowitz as an essential but not equal card. The balance could shift only if Lipowitz makes another leap.

“It can become a problem if Lipowitz becomes even better. Then you may get situations in which Evenepoel has to stop pushing if Lipowitz goes.”

He does not believe the early season races will provide any decisive hierarchy. “Just because you win against Zulte Waregem does not mean you will also beat Club Brugge.”

Those events matter mainly for climbing metres, rhythm and confidence rather than results.

What encourages him most is the winter that lies ahead for Evenepoel, one that he hopes will finally be stable and uninterrupted. “Now he will in principle have had a good winter. We may be able to say for the first time: now we will slowly start to see the real Remco Evenepoel.”