Remco Evenepoel debuts with Red Bull on Thursday as quest to take down Pogačar begins: ’The step I needed to become the best there is.’
(Photo: Maximilian Fries / Red Bull Content Pool)
Updated January 27, 2026 10:02AM
Everybody has an opinion about how Remco Evenepoel’s mega-transfer to Red Bull-bora-Hansgrohe will go.
Tadej Pogačar, Alberto Contador, Chris Horner, that dude next door … they’ve all mouthed-off on the talking point of the winter.
Well,the landmark transfer that could transform the WorldTour meets its moment of reckoning Thursday at the Mallorca Challenge.
Fresh from celebrating his 26th birthday while on vacation in South Africa with his wife Oumi, Evenepoel debuts for Red Bull on Thursday at the Trofeo Ses Salines TTT.
it will close a chapter on years of rumor, months of negotiations, and the most headline-grabbing contract coup in the sport.
“This is where the journey will start … it’s a new story that starts for me,” Evenepoel said this week in a gold-plated social media reel.
“As Red Bull joined this team, I’ve seen this team growing, becoming bigger, with more high-quality riders,” Evenepoel said. “For me, it was the step I needed to become the best rider there is.”
The stakes will be very low Thursday, but Evenepoel’s every move will be under the microscope when he rolls across 24km of Balearic tarmac.
Red Bull unveils its super team makeover of Evenepoel
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Thursday’s TTT will be the unveiling of a super-team makeover unlike any pro cycling has previously seen.
After hitting the WorldTour with Quick-Step as an audacious teen phenom in 2019, Evenepoel broke his contract with the mid-budget squad this winter.
The shiny tools and big bank of Red Bull where all too tempting for a rider on a mission to take down Pogačar at the Tour de France.
It seems Evenepoel got all the sophistication he could wish for this winter.
The now-26-year-old has been tested by Red bull’s aero geek Dan Bigham in disused underground railway tunnels, optimized in the Specialized “Win Tunnel,” and finessed in Red Bull’s Performance center.
He’s had his training program turned upside down by a new coach in the hunt for Pogi-slaying watts, and been handed a gold-laden TT bike fit for a world and Olympic champion.
Evenepoel highlighted in a recent Tadej Pogačar’s 2024 Racing Schedule and Key Competitors
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar, riding for UAE Team Emirates, is set for a challenging 2024 season focused on the Spring Classics, the Tour de France, and the Olympic games.He aims to peak during these events after prioritizing a strong off-season training block. Pogačar intends to target the Ardennes Classics – the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège – as key objectives in the early part of the season. He also plans to compete in the Amstel Gold Race. This strategy reflects Pogačar’s belief that a dedicated winter training period will provide the necessary foundation for success in these demanding one-day races. He stated in a December 2023 interview that a “good winter of planning would help a lot,” emphasizing the importance of the off-season for building endurance and strength. Example: Pogačar finished second in the 2023 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, losing to Remco Evenepoel, demonstrating his capability in this event. The Tour de france remains a central goal for Pogačar. He previously won the Tour in 2020 and 2021, and finished second in 2022 and 2023. He is expected to challenge for the overall victory again in the 2024 edition, which begins on June 29th, 2024 in Florence, Italy, according to the official Tour de France website. Pogačar’s preparation for the Tour will be influenced by his performance in the Spring classics and his overall condition following those races. He aims to arrive at the Tour in peak form, having built sufficient endurance and race sharpness during the preceding months. Evidence: In the 2023 Tour de france, Pogačar finished second 7 seconds behind Jonas vingegaard, showcasing his consistent performance at the highest level of cycling. The road cycling events at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are also a significant target for Pogačar. The men’s road race is scheduled for August 3, 2024. He represents Slovenia, which has a strong cycling tradition and consistently produces competitive riders. Pogačar views the Olympics as a unique chance to compete for his country and add another prestigious title to his palmarès. His training schedule will be adjusted to ensure he is at his best for both the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. Statistic: Slovenia has won a total of 14 Olympic medals in cycling, including 3 gold medals, demonstrating the nation’s success in the sport, according to the official Olympics website. Several riders are expected to challenge Pogačar in 2024. These include Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), the 2023 Tour de France winner, and Remco Evenepoel (soudal Quick-Step), the 2023 Liège-Bastogne-Liège champion. Other potential contenders include Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) and
Spring Classics Focus: Ardennes and Amstel Gold Race
Tour de France Ambitions
Olympic Games in Paris
Key Rivals
