“I hope to get answers” – Remco Evenepoel extends Challenge Mallorca programme as Red Bull era begins
Cycling
What was meant to be a short, controlled return to racing has turned into something more expansive. As Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe begin to put their 2026 season into motion, Remco Evenepoel has decided to extend his Challenge Mallorca programme, adding two extra race days in a move driven as much by instinct as by planning.
Evenepoel had originally been set to ride only Thursday’s Trofeo Ses Salines, using the team time trial to log early-season kilometres with the Tour de France already in mind.
Instead, he will now also line up on Friday at the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana and on Saturday at the Trofeo Andratx, turning what was a single outing into a three-day block of racing.
“That wasn’t the plan, but the weather forecast looks good,” Evenepoel explained to Daniel Benson. “And now that I’m here anyway, I might as well race a bit more than just a 25-minute team time trial.”
Racing, not restraint, as the early-season guide
The decision reflects a familiar pattern in Evenepoel’s approach. While the initial focus of the week was firmly on the team time trial and its relevance to July, the Belgian has opted to lean into racing rhythm rather than hold back.
“These extra races give me the chance to test myself,” he said. “I’m the type of rider who gets better by racing.”
Mallorca’s terrain has played a role in that thinking. The rolling, punchy nature of the routes offers repeated efforts without the sustained pressure of a major stage race, while Saturday’s Trofeo Andratx–Pollença brings the Puig Major into play, a long climb that allows for a more searching physical check.
“On Saturday you also have the Puig Major, a long climb,” Evenepoel added. “So I find a bit of everything here, and I hope to get answers to the question of how my winter has been.”
Early signs of alignment at Red Bull
Evenepoel’s expanded schedule also dovetails neatly with what is already unfolding elsewhere in the squad. Earlier in the week, Florian Lipowitz described the Challenge Mallorca as the opening step of a shared Tour project, with the team time trial serving as an early rehearsal for the Barcelona Grand Depart. Evenepoel’s choice to add racing days reinforces that sense of momentum rather than caution.
For Red Bull, the emphasis this early in the season is not on results, but on information. The Mallorca block offers answers on form, response to racing, and how key riders feel within the new structure. Evenepoel’s decision to race more, rather than less, fits that philosophy.
There is no sense of urgency or pressure being forced. Instead, this looks like a rider comfortable enough within a new environment to adjust plans on feel alone. If the Red Bull era is meant to be built around confidence, clarity, and momentum, then Evenepoel’s Mallorca extension is a small but telling signal of how that chapter is beginning.
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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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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