"It’s got to be the biggest move ever" – Geraint Thomas & Luke Rowe evaluate potential impact of Remco Evenepoel’s Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe switch
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel’s seismic move from Soudal - Quick-Step to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has already reshaped the WorldTour conversation – and on their Watts Occurring podcast, Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe didn’t hold back on just how big they think this transfer really is.
Their discussion covered the scale of the deal, the saga surrounding it, the shift in contract culture, whether Evenepoel can reach a new level at his new team, and the complications of managing three Grand Tour leaders in one squad.
“That is a big, big move”
Thomas opened with blunt clarity: “That is a big, big move. It’s got to be the biggest move. I wouldn’t say ever, but actually no, I’d say ever.”
Despite the boldness of the claim, Rowe didn’t disagree: “That’s a shout. Biggest move ever. It’s got to be up there, hasn’t it?”
Long contracts, high risk, and a rare mid-deal move
Reflecting on how the sport has changed since they turned pro, Thomas said: “When we turned pro, two years was standard. One year wasn’t out of the blue… three years was a very long contract. Four years were almost never heard of. Now two, three is standard, four is long, five, six exist.”
Rowe pointed out that longer deals are a double-edged sword for riders as well as teams: “Even for the rider it’s risky… someone coming up, and they’re like, ‘Let’s get him in for five years because he’s going to do something special.’ But if you’ve got Pog in your team or someone else, it’s risky for the rider as well.”
And because of that, they both highlighted how unusual Evenepoel’s mid-contract exit really is: “There’s not many I can think of that big — especially not breaking a contract.”
Can Evenepoel get even better?
Thomas believes the answer is yes: “Quick-Step operate at a high level — they do, they’re one of the best. But he can definitely get better, I think.”
Rowe agreed and reflected on how strange it is to see the once-“young guys” maturing: “He’s still only — what is he — 24, 25? Yeah, he’s 25. Soon to be 26 actually in January. You always think of young guys like they’re always 23. I still see Egan as like — he must be 25 now. He’s probably almost 30!
But neither had any doubt: “Yeah, for sure he can get better.”
They then acknowledged the scale of the reinforcements around him: “Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe are certainly spending some money, aren’t they? Even with staff in the background as well.”
Rowe highlighted one name in particular: “A rider who I really rate who’s gone there is Jarrad Drizners… brilliant positioning, road captain, putting a guy in the right place, right time. And they haven’t lost a great deal… they’ve lost some good bike riders but not the real race winners. So they’ve stepped it up for sure.”
Roglic, Evenepoel and Lipowitz: a leadership puzzle with no easy answer
Thomas raised the key question facing Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe next season: “It’ll be interesting to see how it goes with Roglic, Remco and Lipowitz, won’t it?”
Rowe felt Lipowitz complicates things further: “With Roglic I think it’ll be okay, but I think it’s more Lipowitz. He’s pretty chilled… but at the same time he was third in the Tour. That dynamic is going to be interesting.”
Then came the real dilemma: “How are they going to split them three? Would they be boring and say one in each? Or do they say, ‘Right, let’s try and go to the Tour…’”
Rowe imagined the tactical chaos: “There were a few times this year where they passed a big call and they’re on a valley road — what situation would they be in there if they had three guys in the mix?”
And the squad goes even deeper: “They still got Hindley, don’t forget… and Vlasov… got some hitters. And Dani Martinez still there, isn’t he?”
Thomas summed it up: “Mate, it’s a hell of a team.” Rowe added: “Three world-class podium, top-five riders in any Grand Tour really.”
As for sending all three to the Tour? “Do they try and just go, ‘Right, let’s send three to the Tour and throw a spanner in the works’? I’m not too convinced on that.”
“Surely… he’s got to go to the Tour”
Thomas was absolutely clear on one thing: “Let’s face it — there’s been a bit of a thing about, ‘Is Remco doing the Giro?’ Surely if you’ve spent all this money on someone, he’s got to go to the Tour. No?”
Rowe didn’t hesitate: “Yeah. Surely. I 100% agree… there’s two sides to every argument — do we try and get him to the Giro and get a Grand Tour in the bank? But mate, your star rider, your marquee rider with that wage bill has to go to the biggest bike race in the world. In best shape.”
For Thomas and Rowe, Evenepoel’s switch to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe isn’t just another headline move. It reshapes the balance of power in men’s cycling and sets up a 2026 Tour de France loaded with intrigue.
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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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