The contract between Remco Evenepoel and Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe is now ready, but official confirmation will only come at the end of August. Starting from 2026, the Brabant rider will be a Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe cyclist, and this is stated with absolute certainty by the Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure, which headlined the news: "No turning back". The newspaper published the news with extreme confidence, based on a source very close to the team.

For now, the two-time Olympic champion is resting at home in Gooik, trying to recover the strength that completely disappeared during the Pyrenees stages. The rider's entourage explained to Belgian media that Remco has spent almost three days sleeping since leaving the Tour on the slopes of Tourmalet. Medical examinations he underwent revealed an advanced state of exhaustion. Further tests will be conducted in the coming days.

Regarding Evenepoel's future, there are talks of a long-term contract with the German team, and from next year the former world champion will ride alongside Primoz Roglic and Florian Lipowitz.

According to Dernière Heure, the Brabant rider should take a more or less extended rest period. It is already known that he will skip the Clasica San Sebastian (Saturday, August 2nd), a classic he loves and would have wanted to win for the fourth time, after his victories in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Some sources suggest a possible return to competition at GP Plouay (August 31st), which would make logical sense in preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Kigali.

According to a source very close to Soudal Quick-Step, the rider and the German team have already reached an agreement. Ralph Denk's team would be ready to pay Jürgen Foré's team 2 million euros in compensation to terminate the rider's contract, which expires in 2026.

As established by the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations, the agreement cannot be formalized before the beginning of August. The contract between Red Bull and Evenepoel would have a minimum duration of three years (until 2028).

Meanwhile, Specialized and Soudal Quick-Step are currently seeking the best solution to ensure that neither party is damaged by this agreement. However, with Evenepoel's move to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, which Specialized already sponsors, the American brand might terminate the contract with Soudal Quick-Step until 2027. It is likely that Jürgen Foré's acceptance of the agreement is based on the guarantee that the bicycle manufacturer will honor the contract until the established date.

Regarding other people who would follow the Belgian to the German team, according to Dernière Heure, Klaas Lodewijck, one of his sports directors, will also join. As for Mattia Cattaneo, one of his lieutenants, he has already signed a contract with the German team. Finally, his cousin Dario Kloeck and his trainer David Geeroms, two intimate friends whom Remco considers absolutely essential, will also be part of the team.