"That is why it is good" - Lipowitz stresses key reason he believes Evenepoel Tour de France dual leadership will succeed
Cycling
Florian Lipowitz was on the podium of last year's Tour de France and wants to do one or two better this time around. But with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard a step above, the Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe rider comes into the race as dual leader with Remco Evenepoel and looking over his shoulder at the rise of Paul Seixas.
On paper, it seems the German star returns to the race on the back foot, however, Lipowitz makes it clear that it's not the case. In fact, he believes that sharing the duties with Evenepoel and Seixas being competitive with the others opens the door to opportunities without one key element - pressure.
Pressure is something the 25-year-old has become accustomed to, and now believes he deals with better than before. Finishing third overall after last year's Tour, Lipowitz admitted to finding things 'difficult' but has slowly got back to his feet and delivered consistent results this spring.
Lipowitz faced Pogacar, Vingegaard and Seixas in spring
He rode three key WorldTour stage races from March in Volta a Catalunya, Itzulia Basque Country and Tour de Romandie, finishing in the podium in all three - with the winners of those race being Vingegaard, Seixas and Pogacar respectively. Of any of the Tour de France contenders, Lipowitz has certainly got a close-up look at GC hierarcy this spring.
“That was a great experience and gave me a lot of confidence, but I expect a different Pogačar in the Tour. Jonas [Vingegaard, ed.] and Pogačar are two steps ahead of the rest, but a lot can happen.
"I do expect Paul Seixas to make things difficult for them. He will be a serious opponent for both," Lipowitz said in an interview with Eurosport Germany.
Florian Lipowitz at the 2026 Tour de Romandie
Evenepoel dual leadership
Remco Evenepoel talk is likely to dominate Lipowitz' build-up to the Barcelona Grand Depart, now one month away. But pressure is the buzzword for Lipowitz, who believes the duo can share the burden and how he can learn from the Belgian superstar.
He said: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. That is why it is good that we are going to the Tour with shared leadership.”
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“We can share the pressure and we both benefit from that. I think I have learned a lot over the past few years, which means I can handle pressure better. It is difficult to beat riders like Vingegaard, Pogačar or Seixas with my sprinting power. I hope I can also learn a lot from Remco.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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