Remco Evenepoel will join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in a blockbuster transfer that will shake up the elite men’s peloton.
In perhaps cycling’s worst-kept secret, the on-again, off-again transfer finally happened, with Red Bull confirming Tuesday the 25-year Belgian superstar will join the peloton’s fast-rising team for 2026.
“Remco stands for ambition. He doesn’t just want to ride – he wants to shape cycling,” said Ralph Denk, CEO of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. “He brings not only exceptional athletic talent, but also a remarkable mindset. His determination, professionalism, and relentless drive to succeed are truly inspiring.”
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Red Bull officials said Evenepoel will “to take on the sport’s biggest challenges – with the clear ambition to fight for victories in the most prestigious races and captivate fans around the world with attractive racing.”
Will Evenepoel be able to elevate his level to challenge Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard in next year’s Tour de France? (Eddy Merckx doesn’t think so).
That’s the multi-million-euro question that will drive the narrative in the coming months and years.
Red Bull on Evenepoel: ‘It’s a clear signal’
It’s a huge coup for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after several teams were trying to attract the signature of the Belgian superstar over the past several years. Other suitors included Ineos Grenadiers and Visma-Lease a Bike.
The arrival of Red Bull, the energy drink giant, to pro cycling in 2024 is rewiring the power structure at the top of the elite men’s peloton.
“Evenepoel’s arrival marks more than just a milestone for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, it is a clear signal,” a team note said Tuesday. “With renewed confidence and bold ambition, the team is setting its course to become one of the most attractive forces on the international cycling stage in the years to come.”
The deal will cement Evenepoel as one of the “Big Six” in elite men’s racing and raise Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to the top of the super team pyramid in cycling alongside UAE Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike.
Evenepoel turned pro with Quick-Step as an 18-year-old in 2019 and has been making headlines on and off the bike ever since.
Anticipation of the move had been building after Red Bull announced major shakeups in its backroom staff, with the departure of longtime performance manager Rolf Aldag and the arrival of Evenepoel’s former Belgian national coach.
Quick-Step: ‘We regret Remco’s decision to leave’
Soudal Quick-Step revealed Tuesday that Evenepoel’s representatives reached out to the team to say that he was not interested in a contract extension beyond 2026. That signaled to the Belgian outfit it was time for a change.
“After taking some time to consult with our sponsors and partners, the team’s ownership and management have decided that it is in the best interest of everyone to agree that Remco can move at the end of the current 2025 season,” a team note said Tuesday.
“While we regret Remco’s decision to leave, we will foster the memories that we have made and will continue to strive together to achieve some significant results for the rest of the season.”
The move sees Evenepoel leave Soudal Quick-Step with one year remaining on his existing contract, meaning Red Bull needed to pay a hefty buyout clause to break the deal.
Rumors of the deal have been floating for nearly two years. Sources confirmed to Velo that things heated up during the Tour’s second rest day.
Details of the deal remain under wraps, but La Gazzetta dello Sport reported the package could be worth up to $8.5 million per season, making the double Olympic champion one of the highest-paid riders in the world.
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