"I’ll have to help many leaders": No time off for one of the best domestiques as Red Bull once again grows ahead of 2026

The 2026 season is fast approaching, and it will be the first year Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe truly feels ready to go toe-to-toe with UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Visma | Lease a Bike. On top of an already powerful roster, the German team added Remco Evenepoel in the last transfer window, one of the very best in the world.

The Belgian will join a star-studded line-up alongside Primoz Roglic, Florian Lipowitz, Giulio Pellizzari, Jai Hindley, and Aleksandr Vlasov. That is excellent news overall for the German team, but it also means much harder work for one of their domestiques: Jan Tratnik.

In a recent interview with bici.pro, Tratnik reflected on what awaits him in 2026, the 10th season of his professional career.

"I think I’ll have to help many leaders throughout the year. We’ll have different captains depending on the races, and I’ll be there to support all of them," he explained. He does not yet know his calendar in detail, but he hinted he will mix Classics, stage races, and a Grand Tour, while confirming it will not be the Giro d’Italia, leaving the door open to the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España.

One of his closest bonds is with compatriot Primoz Roglic, with whom he already spent two years at Visma - one of the superteams. But he is clear that the commitment is the same with any leader: "The job is the same with everyone. With Primoz there’s friendship and maybe a stronger connection, but as a professional I give my maximum for each of them, no exceptions."

Tratnik also explained that beyond his own performance, he often has to take it up to himself to teach his younger teammates about the tactical aspect of racing, something that makes difference between experienced champions like Roglic and the upcoming generation.

"There are moments when I have to tell a teammate to move up because he’s too far back. It’s part of my responsibility to explain what can happen and why positioning matters. Roglic has more experience, while with young riders like Pellizzari we try to teach them so they don’t make mistakes."

With each passing year, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe continues to pile up talent, growing stronger with every step. Besides fewer opportunities for the 35-year-old Slovenian all-rounder, that also puts an extra demand on his own level to be able to play a role for his leaders: "I don’t feel pressure. I just need to be prepared. If I train well, I know I can perform at my best."

Tratnik admitted he did not expect Evenepoel’s arrival, but left no doubt about his excitement from having the superstar as a teammate next year: "It was a surprise, but fantastic news. Remco is a fighter, a huge champion, an outstanding time trialist, and very strong in one-day races too. He already knows how to win a Grand Tour. Having him on the team is a chance to achieve even more."