"This is the year of my revenge": Daniel Martínez ready to fight for leadership in Red Bull's star-filled climbing team
Cycling
Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has undergone a turbulent development in last few seasons and it feels like Daniel Martínez was a bit spat out by the rapid recyclation of GC riders with the aim to find the chosen one who will win the team the desired Tour de France. However we shouldn't forget that Martínez is a Giro d'Italia runner-up from less than two years ago and that talent didn't suddenly disappear at the age of 29. At least that's what the Colombian climber hopes to prove this season.
But to earn a place at a Grand Tour, let alone as a protected rider with the aim towards general classification will be no easy task even for a rider with the renomé of Martínez, he admitted in an interview with El Tiempo: "Gaining a spot will be complicated," as the team aims for a Grand Tour victory in 2026, Martínez knows "the goals of the team are clear."
That's the reason Remco Evenepoel was brought to the team which already has former Tour podium finishers Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic among its ranks. "The big aim is the Tour de France, and we're all aiming in the same direction."
The Belgian got off to a flying start in the first races of the season, winning seven times, before the setback on Jebel Mobrah on UAE Tour stage 3, where Evenepoel cracked and lost two minutes. However Martínez argues this is not a major issue, "everybody knows who he is. He's shown his potential and he's been the star rider of the start of the season. It's clear he's here to win."
And regarding his role in the main races of the season? Martínez is confident his abilities will earn him a rightful role despite the poor 2025 campaign haunted by health issues: "It's the racing that puts everybody where they should be. The legs are what decide. I'm ready to regain puestos in the group."
"I had a lot of health issues and I was sick so I decided to stop racing in August, recover well and look to the next season. These setbacks did not let me have a good year. This is the year of my revenge," he stated categorically. "Last year was really tough, and I want to use 2026 to make up for lost time."
After a second place at the Colombian time trial Championships, Martínez opened his account in Europe at the Volta ao Algarve where he claimed a 6th place on important mountain finish in Fóia, gaining a bit of time over other GC contenders including co-leader Florian Lipowitz further nine seconds down the results.
Daniel Martínez hopes to ideally return to a Grand Tour podium in 2026
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- 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
Loading
Write a comment