"I commit to things if I really believe in them" - The former INEOS member who will assist Remco Evenepoel's Grand Tour goals

Zak Dempster had until now been a DS for INEOS Grenadiers but has made the transition to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe where he will take up the role of Chief of Sports. The German team wants to build a great block which will include Remco Evenepoel and is trying to become a top team in every sense of the word.

"There's a sense of urgency to get things in place, and I've been getting at it. As the Chief of Sport, my main responsibility is to help with the big picture. I'm more or less the sports manager. My role is about putting it all together with the directeur sportif, the coaching group and the sports science group," Dempster shared with Cyclingnews. "I won't be a DS in the team car any more but I have to look after the cohesion and collaboration in the team, which is so important for performance."

The 38-year old Australian was a pro until 2019 and immediately made the switch to a management role with Israel - Premier Tech, later moving to INEOS Grenadiers where he's been a key figure in the team during the Grand Tours. Now he takes up a new role, but one he may be better suited to do.

"I think I'm a pretty structured guy and I think I'm very, very direct too. I feel I commit to things if I really believe in them, and this is a project I really believe in. There are some great things to celebrate about the team, even from when I raced here. The ambition is for much more. I'm excited to play my part in pulling it all together".

"I like to be part of a high-performing team. It's not just about having high-performing individuals, it's about creating a team. I've been speaking to the riders this week, listening to them and getting their insights, asking what they like about the team and also what we can improve and where we want to go".

This is an idea that very much fits the likes of Team Sky in the past, but also UAE and Visma currently who have their Grand Tour lineups virtually decided straight away in December when organizing the season's plans. BORA wants to create a high-performance team with ultra-specific focus, perhaps a field where it can still improve and come closer to its main rivals.

The team has already shown an extremely high level over the past few years, winning the Vuelta a España with Primoz Roglic in 2023 but mainly having Florian Lipowitz taking a massive leap and join Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard at the 2024 Criterium du Dauphiné and Tour de France. This came also as a result of a major budget increase with the entry of Red Bull, which in itself provides more infrastructure for aero testing, something key for Evenepoel's time trial ambitions.

"There's been some long days of listening, but it's been great to get on board. We don't lack talent, and we've built a really talented roster for 2026. We're also in a really good place with the knowledge of the DS and the performance team". There are valid questions on how Evenepoel and his new teammates will be kept happy with so many leaders on board, but that is ultimately a better option than to not have the leaders.

"I want to have a collaborative environment where people contribute to the project and are happy to give their all. It's not going to always be comfortable, because it's about performance. But that's the direction we're going as a team."