"Remco Evenepoel hasn't won a WorldTour stage race in over two years" - Questions raised if Red Bull move can give Evenepoel wings

The biggest transfer saga in men’s pro cycling has finally come to a close — and it’s landed with the force of a mountain-top summit finish. Remco Evenepoel will join Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe in 2026, with Soudal - Quick-Step officially confirming the early termination of his existing contract, originally set to run through that season.

The Belgian’s move — secured through a contract buyout from Soudal - Quick-Step — is not just the biggest transfer of the year; it’s arguably the most consequential for many a year. Evenepoel, still only 25, will reportedly become the second-highest paid rider in the peloton, behind only Tadej Pogacar.

But the bigger question, as TNT Sports commentator Rob Hatch poses on the latest episode of his 'The Gruppetto' podcast, is: can Red Bull finally give Remco his GC wings?

Evenepoel’s pedigree is undeniable — a Vuelta a Espana title, stage wins across all three Grand Tours, and World and Olympic time trial golds. But as Hatch pointed out, “Evenepoel hasn’t won a WorldTour stage race in over two years.” The implication is clear: while the Belgian has delivered major victories, his consistency over three-week races remains under scrutiny.

The move also throws up questions elsewhere in the peloton. Hatch noted the potential knock-on effect at Soudal - Quick-Step, suggesting they may now shift away from GC ambitions: “Early signs point to a pivot back to their former classics and sprint identity,” Hatch claims. 

Incoming signings back this up — Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle are both expected to join the Belgian squad, while Edward Planckaert, who impressed at the Giro d’Italia, arrives from Alpecin–Deceuninck. And at Red Bull - BORA -hansgrohe, Evenepoel’s arrival brings added uncertainty for Primoz Roglic, another high-profile GC rider already on the team’s books.

Hatch stopped short of forecasting outcomes but framed the move as a defining moment for both rider and team: a chance for Red Bull to reforge BORA into a true Grand Tour outfit, and for Evenepoel to reset his own ambitions at the highest level.