Pellizzari's cheer from Innsbruck says everything about what Evenepoel means to Red Bull

The Amstel Gold Race was watched across the world on Sunday — including from a press room in Innsbruck, Austria. After a Tour of the Alps media day, Giulio Pellizzari stayed behind to watch his Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe teammate Remco Evenepoel race in Limburg. When the Belgian crossed the line first, an Italian roar filled the room.

Pellizzari had been glued to a chair at the back of the press hall, inching further towards the edge of his seat with every kilometre. When Evenepoel proved too strong for Mattias Skjelmose in the sprint, the relief was visible.

"We can all go to bed happy," Pellizzari laughed about an hour later, after joining his Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe teammates on the stage for the Tour of the Alps team presentation. "The team needed the Amstel Gold Race," he told IDL Pro Cycling, pointing to the fact that the team's last victory had been Jordi Meeus's win at the Ename Samyn Classic on March 3. "It's always special when one of your teammates wins a race like that."

The reaction said something deeper, too. It speaks to the role Evenepoel has played at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe since arriving last winter. "Remco brings a lot of confidence to the team — to all the riders, really," Pellizzari said. "It's an honour to work for him."

While Evenepoel was winning in the Netherlands, Pellizzari was preparing for his own race. The Tour of the Alps — a five-day stage race through the Austrian and Italian Alps — starts on Monday, and it is a key building block in his programme ahead of the Giro d'Italia.

"I asked to ride it last year but couldn't," he said at the Innsbruck press conference. "I'm glad to be here now, because the Tour of the Alps is a very important race. It gives you rhythm and the right preparation for the Giro."

It won't be easy. "Every stage here is extremely hard, often with bad weather on top of it. The level will be high — it's only climbers on the start list."

That profile suits the 22-year-old Italian well. His 2026 season so far has included third at the Tour of Valencia, third at Tirreno-Adriatico, where he briefly led the race before a knee issue crept in, and fourth at Milan–Turin. One question mark heading into Innsbruck was that knee. "I had some pain at the back of the knee during Tirreno. After Milan–San Remo we stopped and took a break. Then I was able to get through the altitude camp without any problems. Training has gone well — but we'll only really know in the race."

If Pellizzari comes into the Tour of the Alps fit, there is plenty to look forward to. After finishing sixth in both the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España in 2025, he has earned the right to lead. "Last year I learned so much from riding alongside the team leaders. I feel better now, and more at home in the team."

"I'm happy to have more opportunities to race for my own results — though the team result always comes first," he said carefully. The Tour of the Alps will be a test of his climbing legs over longer ascents, something his spring programme hasn't provided. "In the earlier races this year I haven't really had the chance to test myself on the longer climbs. There are plenty of those here. It's one of the hardest climbing races of the year."

He won't lack for encouragement. Evenepoel spoke warmly about his Italian teammate in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, calling Pellizzari someone who "can dream of a podium finish at the Giro." And perhaps more than that. "If you're good enough for the podium, you can win. Giulio has a fantastic future — he can become one of the best Grand Tour riders in the world. We have the same energy. He's cheerful, always gives you a boost. A really nice guy."

Next Sunday, at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Evenepoel will be the one in the spotlight. And somewhere, you suspect, Pellizzari will be watching.