“For me, this feels like coming home” – Former Australian rider returns to Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe as Chief of Sports
Cycling
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has welcomed back a familiar face as Zak Dempster assumes the role of Chief of Sports. The Australian already rode for the team between 2013 and 2016, participating in one Vuelta a España and two Tour de France, playing a key part during a formative period in the team’s history.
He then moved to Israel Cycling Academy (the current Israel - Premier Tech) until 2019. He got his first and only professional victory that same year, winning the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic in the Netherlands.
A few months later, he retired and moved to the managerial section of the same team. He stayed in the squad until 2023, moment in which he became the new assistant sports director of INEOS Grenadiers. After that stint, Dempster is changing homes again, arriving to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.
Ralph Denk, CEO of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, emphasized the strategic value of Dempster’s return: “Zak knows our team like very few others. He played an important role in shaping our history, and despite his young age, he already brings extensive international leadership experience. I am convinced that his fresh ideas, clear leadership style, and fearlessness will help us write the next chapter in our sporting evolution,” he said in an official statement.
Dempster himself expressed his excitement to come back to the team where he spent four seasons: “For me, this feels like coming home. I share so many formative moments of my career with this team, and I am excited to now contribute to its future in a new role. I know Ralph as an ambitious team manager, and with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe he has created the most exciting project in our sport. Now it’s about realizing this enormous potential together.”
The team has also finalized its lineup of Sports Directors for the upcoming season. Oliver Cookson will assume the role of Head of Racing, bringing ten years of experience as a Sports Director, primarily with INEOS Grenadiers. Alongside Sven Vanthourenhout, who joined in August, Klaas Lodewyck and French legend Tony Gallopin will complete the squad.
Lodewyck arrives from Soudal - Quick-Step, where he spent ten years as a Sports Director, while Gallopin brings experience from two years in a similar role at Lotto. Enrico Poitschke will also return to active race duties as a Sports Director in addition to his ongoing responsibilities as Head of Performance Structure Alignment.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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