At the presentation of his Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe, the team's German general manager Ralph Denk appeared smiling, ready to start a season in which he wants to be a protagonist.

"We managed to extend the contracts of young talents like Lorenzo Finn and Giulio Pellizzar, and although there were rumors he would transfer to another team, Florian Lipowitz also renewed his contract with us. I thought this was important. And of course, I must also mention - how should I call him? - certainly, the superstar who joined our team: Remco Evenepoel. How else can you describe a two-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion? I am incredibly proud to have Remco in our team".

Evenepoel's arrival was far from obvious and it took years of constant work to bring the Belgian to Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe. "I started following Remco in 2020. A lot of time has passed, but I also consider it proof of my conviction that he is the right person and rider for my team. I can say it was a real pursuit, but I understand how his previous team fought to keep him. But I'm happy that we finally reached an agreement".

There were also references to Patrick Lefevere and the offensive phrases he has used multiple times over the years to define Ralph Denk. Among the various phrases spoken by Lefevere towards Denk, many will remember these: That BORA idiot; that BORA brat; that Denk with that bad head. You seemed like Dr. Evil. Did he know?

"I was informed about it and partly understand it, because he was the father and founder of his team, and having different opinions and expressing them in the media is part of our sport. So, if expressing these things is his style, I can live with it, but dealing with cyclists is also part of the business. I heard he was hospitalized again recently. I hope he recovers soon".

Regarding the Belgian market, Evenepoel's transfer was followed very closely, and his participation in the Tour of Flanders would have been of great importance. But both he and the team have said it will not happen this year.

"That no is definitive. As Remco himself explained, we want to avoid risks with him this season – Denk said -. He needs a stable season, where he can race from start to finish without major physical problems or setbacks, and everyone knows how cobbled Classics always involve risks, so our no is definitive. I expect Remco to make his debut at the Tour of Flanders in the coming years, but only when the time is right".

The team has opted for a well-calibrated program, with the Tour de France and World Championships as the main objectives.
"We have made well-considered choices. Analyzing his performances in recent years, you can see how he is very good at preparing through training and therefore does not need preparation races. We all remember his return last year and how strong he was in the Brabant Arrow. He beat Wout van Aert in his first race after a long break. We firmly believe in good preparation through training, instead of racing to get in shape. For now, this is the program, but if he feels good we can add another race to his calendar, but that's not the case at the moment. We have a slightly more limited program for him".

Remco is the undisputed star of Belgian cycling and one of the strongest riders in the world, capable of winning Classics and Grand Tours, as he did at the Vuelta and by standing on the Tour de France podium, and he is considered the world's strongest rider in time trials. Denk expects to have many victories and hopes that Evenepoel with his qualities can help increase the team's successes.

"Quality over quantity and I want to win at least forty races this year, including a Grand Tour and a Monument Classic. It doesn't matter which one, because I've already won Paris-Roubaix with Peter Sagan in 2018. So I prefer one of the other four. If Remco then wins Liège-Bastogne-Liège, I would be very happy, because I've already finished second and third in Liège once in 2019 with Davide Formolo and then with Maximilian Schachmann".

The main objective remains the Tour de France, where Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe can count on both Evenepoel and Lipowitz.
"The Tour is a very important goal, but every race is important. I am convinced that we will do better than last year. We have a stronger team and, if we prepare even better, everything will be possible, even if we might have to wait for Pogacar or Vingegaard to make a mistake. They are human too".

In 2026, there will be more than just the Tour, and the Red Bull CEO has many things in mind.
"Our season won't stop after the Tour. For Remco, one-day races in Canada, the World Championships and the Giro di Lombardia are important objectives with winning possibilities. These races are already firmly in his calendar".

Your team's 2025 season was not exactly extraordinary, although important results were achieved.
"The Spring Classics did not go well. We must improve in that part of the year, and it is also for this reason that we hired a rider like Gianni Vermeersch. Our classics team has a lot of talent, but we were missing a leader. Perhaps Gianni can fill this void. Then we must remember Florian's third place at the Tour, which was very nice for us, he tried to chase as long as possible, but no one managed to put Pogacar in difficulty at the Tour. Additionally, at the Volta a Catalunya, Primoz Roglic won with aplomb. It's not easy to race like this in the most important races, but this is our goal and Remco can help us with this. We want to start well and we have a team that will allow us to do so, but cycling is a difficult sport and you have to hope that nothing happens during the season and that your guys manage to reach the end of the year without incidents, only then can you guarantee a high-level season".