Denk discusses Evenepoel for the first time: no dispute with SQS, the Sagan effect, Roglic/Lipowitz, and the 2026 goals

Denk realizes that the transfer has caused quite a stir, both inside and outside the cycling world. And he is happy with that. "The transfer aims to increase our reach. We're not just talking about the Tour, but about much more. It has had a huge impact on the team in terms of media coverage, as far as we can track that at the moment."

Patrick Lefevere repeatedly poked fun at Denk for having been after Evenepoel for a long time, which he does not deny. “He has already achieved a lot at a young age, and we believe he can achieve even more. I have received many congratulations since his arrival. It's no secret that we have been interested in Remco since the COVID-19 pandemic. What is extremely interesting is his development from soccer player to cyclist.”

Nevertheless, the German emphasizes that Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe or he himself played no role in the (contractual) dispute that arose or had to be resolved with his previous team. "We did not resolve it with Soudal Quick-Step, so I cannot comment on that. He had to do that all by himself.

"Once that was settled and he was a free agent, we were able to respond. And that's what we did,’ says Denk. ‘We have strong partners in Red Bull, BORA, and hansgrohe, and we have a solid budget. We've also set some money aside over the past few years, which has made this transfer possible.2

The fact is that the team, which includes Primoz Roglic, Florian Lipowitz, Jai Hindley, and many other riders, already has the necessary quality on board. "We need to discuss how we are going to approach the Grand Tours. It's too early to say what this could mean for Roglic and others. Cycling is not like soccer, where you only have one lineup for each game. In the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta, the team is always the same. Once we know next year's routes, we can start putting the puzzle together. In any case, Primoz and Florian are still under contract for next year."

“We have to discuss internally how we're going to play it in the Tour and other races,” Denk repeats. “Are we going for a one-man strategy, or are we going to take a different approach? And I have to say that Remco didn't come to us just for the Tour de France, but also for many other races. He's also going for the classics, where he's already had a lot of success.”

"We are hoping for the Peter Sagan effect," says Denk. “After Sagan joined (in 2017, ed.), we finished second in the rankings in 2019 and won 47 races. Four of those were won by Sagan, but the other successes came from Ackermann, Buchmann, Schachmann, and Sam Bennett. So it's also an opportunity for others. The great Remco is coming, but he can also push others to a higher level.”

Finally, what are Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe's goals for 2026, now that Evenepoel is on board? “We want to become the most attractive team in the peloton and inspire many children. That is our mission. We are well on our way, but we are still a long way from achieving our mission,” says the German. “We want to win a Monument in 2026 and do well in the Grand Tours. We would love to win a Grand Tour, as we did in 2024. And we just want to win a lot, which Remco can help us achieve.”