“He’s excited to have Remco on” - Florian Lipowitz's coach gives insight into German's feelings as Red Bull break the bank for Evenepoel

In the biggest transfer of the season, it was recently confirmed that Remco Evenepoel will be swapping Soudal - Quick-Step for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe in 2026. Whilst this news brought undoubted excitement to cycling fans, it also raised a few questions as to how the Olympic champion would fit into a team that can already boast GC leaders such as Primoz Roglic and Florian Lipowitz.

Evenepoel, Roglic and Lipowitz have all been notably quiet on the topic of the team tactics for 2026 and beyond since the news first broke that the three would be teammates. In conversation with Velo however, Lipowitz’s coach John Wakefield has now given the first insight into how his rider is feeling about that extra level of internal competition for Grand Tour leadership. 

“There’s enough racing to keep both of them happy,” Wakefield analyses thoughtfully. “I haven’t personally spoken to Remco yet, but Florian’s attitude is ‘give me a good race program, let me do my thing, and away we go.' With Florian, as long as he’s happy with his race calendar, he doesn’t really care. He’s excited to have Remco on.”

Lipowitz put in a breakthrough performance at the 2025 Tour de France, matching Evenepoel's efforts from the year before to finish best of the rest behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, securing a place on the final podium and the White Jersey for Best Young Rider. Being a young German GC hopeful on a German/Austrian team, many expected Lipowitz to be the main Grand Tour challenger in years to come, but has Evenepoel's arrival changed that? “Both Florian and Remco are super professional. They know what they need to do,” says the German's trainer Wakefield, acknowledging the fact that his rider may have to target leadership at the Giro d'Italia or Vuelta a Espana in 2026, and settle for a domestique role at the Tour de France.

Wakefield insists however, this isn't inherently a major issue for Lipowitz. “It [riding with others] has never been a problem for Florian. It wasn’t a problem last year at the Vuelta with Primoz. Florian just did his job. At this level, you’re professional. You have a job to do, and you do it,” he explains. “And there will be other races where they’ll get their own individual opportunities.”

As the signing of Evenepoel itself, Wakefield is confident it bodes well for the entire Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team. “You always want that type of rider on the team,” he concludes. “When you bring more good riders on, the whole level of the team picks up. That effect filters all the way down to riders, to staff, to everyone. Having someone like that elevates everyone.”