“He was not only incredibly powerful, but also really clever” – Red Bull DS struck by Remco Evenepoel’s racing IQ in dream start to life at the team
Cycling
For Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Trofeo Serra Tramuntana delivered more than another early-season victory. It offered immediate confirmation that Remco Evenepoel is already shaping races in exactly the way the team envisaged when they secured his signature.
Sports director Oliver Cookson made that clear after Evenepoel’s long-range solo, highlighting not just the physical dominance on display but the decision-making behind it.
“He was not only incredibly powerful and strong, but also really clever,” Cookson told Cycling Pro Net. “The way he rode was incredible.”
A planned move, not an impulse attack
That assessment aligned closely with how the race unfolded. With the early break thinning on the Coll de Sóller and Red Bull already lifting the pace behind, Evenepoel launched his move with more than 50 kilometres still remaining.
Cookson confirmed it was no spur-of-the-moment decision. “That was the plan,” he explained. “To get there with enough engines to split the race. These climbs are beautiful roads, but they’re not quite selective enough on their own. We wanted to make it hard, but not take everyone with us. We needed that explosion.”
The acceleration immediately fractured what remained of the front of the race. Only Pablo Castrillo and Adria Pericas were briefly able to follow before Evenepoel pressed on alone.
Using the terrain to break the chase
Once clear, Evenepoel fully committed to the move, driving over the top and into the descent where the race truly broke apart. The gap opened quickly as cooperation vanished behind.
Cookson pointed to that phase as decisive. “The way Remco rode was not only powerful, but clever,” he said. “He had those two from the original break with him on the descent, dropped them there, and then we saw what happened behind.”
What followed was exactly what Red Bull had anticipated. The chase splintered, attacks neutralised each other, and by the time a semblance of organisation emerged, Evenepoel’s advantage had already stretched beyond a minute.
Trusting the plan through a long solo
Despite the length of the effort and the long run-in to the final climb of the Coll de sa Batalla, Cookson stressed there was no panic on the team car radio.
“Worry is not the right word,” he said. “It’s a plan. You can’t control what happens behind. Remco was focused on his effort, he stuck to the plan, and he delivered an incredible performance.”
Even on the final climb, where the gap stabilised rather than ballooned, the situation never looked under threat. Evenepoel crested with a comfortable buffer and managed the descent and run-in with control to seal his second win in as many days.
Early signs of seamless integration
Beyond the result itself, Cookson underlined how quickly Evenepoel has slotted into the team environment. “First road race with Remco,” he said. “He’s a fantastic leader. He knows what he wants, but the whole team around him is key. What a day for the team, and for Remco.”
For Red Bull, the takeaway from Trofeo Serra Tramuntana was clear. The engine was never in doubt. What has already stood out in these opening races is how Evenepoel is reading the race, choosing his moments, and turning plans into victories – a combination that Cookson believes is already making the difference.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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