While all eyes were on Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard during the Criterium du Dauphiné stage 4 time trial, another rider put in a strong performance. Behind the super-human trio (and Matteo Jorgenson), Florian Lipowitz rode excellent chrono to arrive 5th on the day. The former biathlete is revealed to have had one ace up his sleeve - the Catesby Tunnel.
The Catesby Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel in England, that has been repurposed as a vehicle testing facility. And thanks to parternship with Red Bull, it was now also allowed to Florian Lipowitz to work on his time trial skill set in this unique setting.
"The Catesby Tunnel underwent extensive redevelopment a few years ago and has since become a truly unique testing environment," Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe explained in a press release. "Measuring 2,740 meters in length, perfectly straight, with flawless asphalt, stable climate conditions, and complete wind stillness – it offers near-perfect conditions for aerodynamic engineers: controlled, repeatable, and precise."
And so it's only a matter of time before other top riders join Lipowitz and visit this facility. "We test in a wide range of conditions, but the reason we come here to Catesby Tunnel is the level of control. There are no headwinds, tailwinds, crosswinds, or hard-to-measure gradient changes. It allows us to be extremely precise with our measurements – exactly what we need when we’re focusing on the smallest details."
"The conditions are absolutely exceptional – completely stable and ideal for aero testing. We were able to test a lot of things and gained some exciting insights that could help us become even faster."
Lipowitz's time trial performance in Dauphiné stage 4 was a perfect example of why this approach paid off. "It was a very difficult time trial, especially with that climb. It was also very hot. But I'm happy with my performance, especially after riding in the lead group the day before. This will help us move forward," he said in a brief reaction.
Thanks to his ride, the 24-year-old German rider moves up to 2nd overall, only four second shy of new leader Remco Evenepoel. But for example Tadej Pogacar is more than half a minute further in the provisional standings, giving Lipowitz good odds for a possible top-5 finish.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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