Olympic double gold medalist leaves Soudal-Quickstep early as power dynamics shift within elite team
Remco Evenepoel is leaving Soudal-Quickstep a year ahead of schedule. The reigning Olympic road and time trial champion will join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2026, after reaching a mutual agreement with his current team to terminate his contract early.
The move ends a seven-year chapter with Soudal-Quickstep, where the 25-year-old Belgian evolved from teen prodigy into a Grand Tour winner. It also raises tough questions about who leads the GC charge at his new team, which already includes big names like Primož Roglič and Jai Hindley.
A Champion On The Move
Evenepoel’s decision didn’t come out of the blue—at least not behind the scenes. According to the team, his representatives made it clear they weren’t interested in negotiating an extension past 2026.
Soudal-Quickstep didn’t drag things out.
“After taking some time to consult with our sponsors and partners,” the team said, “we decided it’s best for everyone if Remco leaves after the 2025 season.”
That’s that. Quiet, clean, and probably expensive.
Evenepoel has been with them since 2019, after skipping the under-23 ranks entirely. During that time, he racked up wins across one-day classics, time trials, and stage races—most notably, the 2022 Vuelta a España. He also stood on the Tour de France podium in July.
Gold in Paris, Then A Deal in Motion
His Olympic double in Paris was historic. No male cyclist had ever won both the road race and the time trial at the same Olympics. Evenepoel did it with flair.
It’s believed that talks with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe ramped up after that golden weekend.
Though rumors about a possible transfer had swirled for years, he always brushed them off. Not this time.
The team’s new sports director, Sven Vanthourenhout—who used to coach Evenepoel on Belgium’s national team—was a key figure in closing the deal. That relationship clearly helped.
Shuffling The Deck at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
The move adds firepower. But also tension.
Evenepoel joins a GC-heavy squad already stacked with Roglič, Hindley, and Dani Martínez. And that’s before mentioning Florian Lipowitz, who’s fresh off a breakout Tour de France podium and best young rider jersey.
Someone will have to take a backseat.
• Roglič still has a contract
• Hindley’s Giro win wasn’t that long ago
• Martínez is consistent in the mountains
• Lipowitz is only 24 and climbing the ranks fast
This could get messy—or work brilliantly. It depends on who sacrifices and who’s willing to work for whom.
Who Gets Which Grand Tour?
With only three men’s Grand Tours per season, there’s not much room for four top-tier GC guys. Someone’s ambitions will get clipped.
Here’s how the team’s GC puzzle could shape up:
| Rider | Age | Grand Tour Strength | Contract Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remco Evenepoel | 25 | Time trials, hilly stages | Joins 2026 |
| Primož Roglič | 35 | All-around, experience | Under contract |
| Jai Hindley | 29 | Climbs, long-range attacks | Under contract |
| Dani Martínez | 28 | Strong domestique/leader | Under contract |
| Florian Lipowitz | 24 | Emerging GC contender | Under contract |
There’s buzz that Evenepoel could target the Giro d’Italia in 2026, giving Roglič or Lipowitz space for the Tour. But nothing’s official yet.
A Clean Break for Soudal-Quickstep
Meanwhile, Evenepoel’s old team isn’t sulking. They’re already shifting focus.
The Belgian squad kicked off the transfer window by signing Jasper Stuyven, this year’s Milan-San Remo champ. The plan? Go back to what they’ve always done best—dominate the one-day classics.
They’ve still got Tim Merlier, one of the peloton’s fastest sprinters, who bagged two Tour de France stage wins in July. And no one should write off Julian Alaphilippe, either.
They’ll be fine. Just different.
Red Bull’s Bet On The Future
Red Bull didn’t just want a star. They wanted a symbol.
“Remco stands for ambition,” said team CEO Ralph Denk. “He doesn’t just want to ride—he wants to shape cycling.”
That might sound like PR fluff, but there’s truth in it. Evenepoel has been vocal about racing schedules, anti-doping standards, and team tactics. He’s not afraid to speak up.
He’s also brutally competitive, famously keeping receipts on rivals. His social media posts after Tour stage exits or crashes aren’t just updates—they’re messages.
And now, he has a global sponsor and deep-pocketed team ready to build around him.
Bigger Than Just One Transfer
In a way, this move says a lot about where men’s pro cycling is headed.
It’s no longer just about tradition, or riders sticking with their boyhood teams. It’s about structure, resources, personal branding, and long-term strategy.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is betting on the next five years—not just the next race.
Evenepoel’s signing doesn’t just change one team. It might shift the balance of power across the sport entirely.
