“Everything is going in a good direction” – Remco Evenepoel continues dream Red Bull start with second win in two days

Remco Evenepoel’s solo victory at Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana was not an opportunistic move born of chaos, but a fully committed plan executed exactly where Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe had intended.

The Belgian launched his decisive attack on the Coll de Soller with 55 kilometres still remaining, turning a selective mountain race into an extended time trial as he pressed on alone through the valley and into the final climbs. Behind him, the peloton struggled to organise any meaningful chase, allowing Evenepoel to stretch his advantage beyond two minutes before the final ascent of the Coll de sa Batalla.

After the finish, Evenepoel confirmed that the move had been discussed well before the flag dropped. “We knew that the wind direction was going to play quite a role today,” he explained in conversation with Cycling Pro Net afterwards, noting that the valley after Soller offered tailwind conditions that could be exploited. “We had a plan to go for it there, because everybody knows that in the bunch it goes up quite steep in the beginning and then, once you hit the forest, it’s really difficult to sit in the wheel.”

That understanding shaped Red Bull’s approach to the race. Evenepoel said the objective was to make the race hard as early as possible, take control on the descent, and never allow the pressure to ease. “We wanted to make it as hard as possible as soon as possible, also take the front in the descent and then keep the effort going.”

Once clear of the peloton, Evenepoel committed fully to the long solo. The flat section that followed stretched close to 30 kilometres, but favourable wind conditions helped him reach the final climb sooner than expected. “Luckily, the wind was in the back, so we arrived pretty soon on the final climb,” he said. From there, he focused on pushing hard over the opening half of the Coll de sa Batalla before managing the effort to the line.

The victory marked Evenepoel’s second win in as many days, following his team time trial success at Trofeo Ses Salines, and reinforced the sense that his move to Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe has begun seamlessly. He stressed that the most satisfying aspect of the Serra Tramuntana win was not just the result, but how closely it mirrored the plan laid out that morning.

“In general, it was exactly how we discussed and planned the race this morning,” he said. “I’m happy I could finish it off like this.”

Winning so early in the season carries extra significance for Evenepoel after months of winter preparation. He admitted that opening his road racing account quickly brings reassurance, both physically and mentally. “You train a few months to get a win,” he said. “I really like to win early in the season to feel good in the season.”

He also acknowledged that it had been some time since his last road race victory, making the Serra Tramuntana result feel like an important reset. “It took me quite some time to win one again,” he added. “I’m happy that I can open my account with my new team pretty early.”

For Evenepoel, the win was not framed as a statement to rivals, but as confirmation that the work done over the winter is already translating into race-winning execution. “It shows that we did some good work in the winter,” he said, “and that everything is going in a good direction so far.”

On a demanding Mallorcan parcours, with multiple climbs and a long solo effort required, Evenepoel left little doubt about both his condition and his confidence. Two days, two wins, two very different tests — and a Red Bull debut that could hardly have started more convincingly.