"I couldn't say no to the opportunity" - Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe too good to turn down according to Laurence Pithie

After a real breakthrough in the Classics of 2024, Laurence Pithie is set to take a step up in 2025, swapping Groupama - FDJ for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. According to the Kiwi himself, the chance to ride for Red Bull - BORA - hansrohe was simply too good to turn down.

"I think the main reason I came here was because I couldn't say no to the opportunity," said Pithie to Cycling News. "The project and vision that Ralph Denk and the team here approached me with, it was something I just couldn't say no to. It's a super professional environment here, and with Red Bull coming on, who doesn't want to be under that brand."

That's not to say that Pithie isn't grateful for the time spent at Groupama - FDJ over the last four seasons though. "It was a big decision to leave Groupama. They gave me my shot, and they were the only team to give me the chance, really, when I first came to Europe, and they took a big risk on me," he explains. "I can only look back on that with fond memories and thank them for their opportunities. But I think it was time for me to move on and come into an English-speaking environment as well. I think I can really get the best out of myself here and become the best rider I can be."

"I'd never say anything bad about Groupama, it was a great team and they gave me the opportunity. But for sure it's different to other teams," Pithie adds. "I think already when you look at the sports directors here and some of the interactions I've had, I can really be more myself, and it's more like a friendly environment. You've got super young staff here who have retired from cycling quite recently. On Groupama, most of the sports directors were older and were set in their ways a little bit. When I'm coming in with not much experience with all these, I wouldn't say new ideas, but trying to think outside the box a little bit, you can be pushed to the side sometimes."

With Pithie being joined by the likes of Jan Tratnik, the Van Dijke brothers, Gianni Moscon, Oier Lazkano and Maxim van Gils among others, the Classics squad of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe is certainly now one of the strongest in the entire peloton.