“Primoz Roglic motivates me to look for the best version of myself” – Remco Evenepoel embraces leadership pressure at Red Bull
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel believes the internal competition he will face at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe will be a driving force rather than a threat, as he begins a new chapter of his career surrounded by proven Grand Tour winners and ambitious contenders.
Speaking on the Specialized podcast, Evenepoel made it clear that joining a team stacked with experience is something he actively welcomes.
“I’m joining a team with guys who have an enormous palmarès, but also guys with a big future,” he said. “Knowing that names like that, look for example at Primoz Roglic, will be riding next to me, motivates me to look for the best version of myself.”
Crucially, Evenepoel framed that environment as one built on accountability rather than entitlement. “I just have to be ready, because there is always a teammate capable of claiming my position as leader.”
A lesson learned on the road
That mindset did not form overnight. Evenepoel traced it back to a specific moment during last season’s Criterium du Dauphine, a phase of racing that stayed with him long after the finish.
“I remember a phase in the final stage of the Dauphine in June,” he explained. “After a lot of climbing we came into a valley with an elite group. I looked around and there were three or four guys from Red Bull in our group. And I thought: ‘Man, I’m sitting here completely alone. And they’re riding around here with four guys.’”
For Evenepoel, the image was confronting, but also clarifying. It highlighted the value of depth and support at the highest level, and planted a seed that would later influence his decision-making.
“That motivated me so much, already knowing what would happen a few months later,” he said. “That evening after the stage I could think of only one thing: ‘Gosh, just imagine if I were surrounded like that. If we could start the final climb with five.’”
Pressure as motivation, not comfort
Evenepoel was careful not to describe that realisation as reassurance. Instead, he spoke about it as a benchmark. Joining a team with that level of backing also means accepting constant internal pressure.
His comments suggest he sees that pressure as productive. Rather than expecting leadership by default, he appears intent on earning it daily within a roster where competition is unavoidable.
That attitude also shapes how he views the gap to the very top of the sport. Asked what it will take to close in on Tadej Pogacar, Evenepoel did not point to tactics or technology. He pointed to continuity.
“A good winter of preparation,” he said. “That would already help a lot. Every rider knows how important those four, five months of training are. Laying the foundation and grinding out the kilometres, that’s what it’s about.”
Focused on control
Evenepoel ended on a note that mixed dry humour with realism, reflecting on how much last season was disrupted by factors outside his control. “My main goal is not to be hit by a postal van,” he added.
Taken together, the message is clear. Evenepoel is not joining Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe to be protected from competition. He is joining to be sharpened by it. For him, riding alongside names like Roglic is not a complication. It is the point.
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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