“They need to work on stress, anger, and bad moments management” – Jens Voigt explains where Remco Evenepoel needs to improve after blockbuster Red Bull transfer

Following the announcement that Remco Evenepoel will join Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe for 2026, former pro and cycling commentator Jens Voigt has weighed in on the move — and the areas where the Belgian superstar still has room to grow.

Evenepoel, a two-time world time trial champion and double Olympic gold medallist, was one of the most talked-about riders this Tour de France. But despite his pedigree, Voigt believes there are still important question marks around the 25-year-old’s consistency and leadership when things don’t go to plan.

“They need to work on stress, anger, and bad moments management,” Voigt said, speaking before the official transfer was confirmed on the Ecehlon Cycling Podcast. His comments, now viewed in the context of Evenepoel’s confirmed move to Red Bull, highlight both the potential and the volatility that come with signing a rider of such stature.

For Voigt, Evenepoel’s Grand Tour track record is still a mixed bag. “From the top of my head, I think he has done six Grand Tours. Won one, third last year, some twelfth in the Vuelta, and three did not finishes,” Voigt said. “That is quite a high percentage… in other words, that would be 50% of the Grand Tours he started he did not finish. So it's either hot or cold.”

Voigt was quick to acknowledge Evenepoel’s incredible talent and palmarès — “we would kill for one of these wins,” he joked — but pointed to last year’s Tour as an example of how Evenepoel’s resilience is still being tested. “For his first try at GC at the Tour de France, he was leading — you mentioned it — on Autun, then blew apart. But he did stick in the game, went through the difficulties, and came back and could've won probably two or three — at least two — more stages after that. So, strong comeback.”

That willingness to fight back rather than abandon, Voigt explained, is a key quality. “Okay, struggling — yes, everybody can have a bad day. But don’t put your head in the sand and go home. No. Come back out of it. That makes you a champion.”

Voigt also touched on the importance of leadership — especially in a Grand Tour environment where domestiques are asked to sacrifice everything for their leader. “You want them to be willing to turn themselves inside out for you on the bike? Well then, show leadership. Show that, okay, yes, I’m worth it — you give everything to me. Okay, I struggled, but hey — I get up, put the crown straight, and keep on going.”

The point, according to Voigt, is not just about results, but how a rider carries themselves during adversity. It’s about earning trust and respect, not assuming it. “That’s also what the team wants to see… They also went to altitude training camps. They also ate salad leaves and weighed their food and did all these intervals. And they also missed their families in these lonely altitude training camps.”

Evenepoel’s ability to bounce back with stage wins after a tough day is something Voigt admired — “that makes you a champion” — but he was clear that this grit needs to become more consistent if he’s to lead a Tour-winning squad.

While Voigt’s analysis came just before the official confirmation of Evenepoel’s move, he acknowledged the inevitability of the transfer. “It is very, very, very likely that the new team of Remco — or the old team — and Remco know where he will be riding his bike next year,” he said. “But he can only announce it in August.”

Now that the news is out, Voigt’s thoughts on what Evenepoel brings to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe are especially relevant. “He makes the team definitely more interesting — let’s put it that way,” Voigt said. “Working with him is probably also interesting.”

Evenepoel’s ability to contend in stage races and the Monuments alike makes him a unique weapon in any team’s arsenal. “He can win Amstel Gold or Liège,” Voigt said. “And in terms of physical capacity, he can also win Il Lombardia, the last big race of the year. That would make the team stronger for the Grand Tours.”

Still, Voigt warned that raw power isn’t the only factor at play — especially for a team looking to transition from podiums to yellow jerseys. “When they started talking, maybe in January, they probably thought, ‘Okay, we need a new strong rider next to Primoz Roglic. Primoz is going to be 35 next year… so we need somebody younger that can move and take over as our captain for Grand Tours.’ Made perfect sense.”

But: “In Grand Tours, he abandoned three times out of six, right? So is he going to make us stronger?” That’s the big question Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe will now be hoping to answer in the coming seasons.