Evenepoel and Roglič will finally race together, as Red Bull target Pogačar-free Lombardy: 'A great opportunity'
Cycling
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleRemco Evenepoel can count on an incredibly strong team around him this Saturday in the Tour of Lombardy. With Primož Roglič, Giulio Pellizzari, Jai Hindley, and Giovanni Aleotti, there’s a pretty good chance that the brand-new European champion will have riders with him well into the final stretch. These are riders who on a good day, could also be in contention for a top result themselves.
ADVERTISEMENT
European Champion looking for another win in Italy
On paper, of course, Evenepoel is the team leader at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. It’s no coincidence that the Belgian was the only rider who held a press conference on Friday afternoon, ahead of Il Lombardia.
Speaking primarily to the Belgian media, Evenepoel talked about “a good week” following the European Championships, “a good recovery,” and even “some extra training.”
Read also
After his second-place finishes in 2024 and 2025, his hard crash into a ravine in 2020 has already faded somewhat into the background.
Evenepoel sees Pogačar-free race as huge opportunity
Evenepoel would rather talk about winning on Saturday, because now that Tadej Pogačar isn’t competing, the battle for victory—following the Slovenian’s five consecutive wins—is wide open. Evenepoel calls Saturday’s race “a great opportunity to go for the win.”
The Belgian—who also finished second in this year’s Tour de France, became world time trial champion, and won the Amstel Gold Race, among other races—says that a victory on Saturday would mark the “best season” of his career.
Read more below the photo!
Remco Evenepoel will start on Saturday wearing his European Championship jersey
The fact that he finished second behind Pogačar the past two years—but “well ahead of the rest”—gives him confidence on a course that should suit him. “I’ve already won three times after the Tour; others haven’t.”
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe boasts rock-solid team built around Evenepoel
Friday’s press conference made it clear: Evenepoel feels like the team leader and will likely be the team leader on Saturday as well.
His regular teammate Maxim Van Gils won’t be there, but with Mattia Cattaneo, Gianni Moscon, and Giovanni Aleotti, he has three strong support riders around him, guiding him—and perhaps even helping him—into the final stretch.
With Roglič, Pellizzari, and Hindley, Red Bull still has three strong climbers on the team—and a chance to perhaps make a run at the title.
Roglič was crowned European time trial champion just this week and also performed well in the road races at the World and European Championships. His participation is certainly noteworthy, though, since Evenepoel and Roglic haven’t raced together even once this season in a single race for Red Bull.
A Tour of Lombardy without Tadej Pogačar apparently means unique and generous support for Evenepoel. Pellizzari and Hindley don’t seem to have been in top form in recent weeks, but they might surprise us and the team leader on Saturday.
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Roster - 2026 Tour of Lombardy
Read also
Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
IDL-productions
Rumours, speculation and guesswork: 2027 Tour de France route will be revealed live on October 22 in Paris
Vollering adds the Women’s European Championships road race jersey to her rainbow wardrobe
16-day Grand Tours, AI, VAR, drones and more: The UCI's new document has a potentially major impact from 2029 onwards
Quinn Simmons' Strava shows exactly what it takes to compete at the World Championships: ‘I said, Hey guys, anything is possible'
Despite losing the World Championships, Del Toro and Seixas rank high mentally and physically on the Pogačar scale
Latest Cycling News
2026 Il Lombardia Preview | Evenepoel, Del Toro, Seixas and Pidcock all fight to win Pogacar’s crown
Brandon McNulty chases a rare double at Il Lombardia and hopes to join an elite club of World Champions
Pidcock's Pinarello or Lotto-Intermarché: Roglič's 2027 choice reportedly narrows, but we shouldn't count Tudor out yet
2026 Tour of Lombardy start list | These riders will try to take Pogačar's crown on Saturday
Visma set to repeat successful two leader strategy at Il Lombardia amongst team illness and uncertainty
Popular Cycling News
Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer 30 years ago but is still here today; celebrates with wife Anna Hansen
INEOS's young talent dominated the European and World Championships: Noval hailed as 'new Seixas'
Cycling transfers 2026/2027 | Riders come and go at Netcompany INEOS
European Championship organiser answers Giulio Ciccone's photo finish complaint: 'In the case of minimal differences'
Sensational Primož Roglič gives home fans something to cheer about by winning the mens' European time trial title
Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the team side of cycling: if a team has 29 contracts already signed, how can it still add Roglič? Do riders leave, or are there limits on how many can be registered?samanthak09-10-2026
- So many conflicting reports — Tudor favourite one week, completely out the next. Surely someone in the camps knows what’s happening? Either way, Roglic deserves a team built around him rather than another uncertain setup.jeremya09-10-2026
- Pinarello-Q5 with Roglič, Pidcock and Ciccone would be a seriously interesting project. Plenty of firepower, although three big personalities sharing one team could get complicated during the Grand Tours.sprocketspiny09-10-2026
- Big challenge ahead—bonne chance, Grischa!lindae09-10-2026
- Interesting move, though the article doesn’t explain much about what is actually different day to day at Lidl-Trek. Is it mainly the management structure, or are the training and race strategies different too?bikebuffj09-10-2026
- The multiple-leader approach sounds ambitious, but can Gall really be treated as a genuine Tour contender after only one strong season? I’m curious to see how they balance his goals with Ayuso and Skjelmose.gearguru3309-10-2026
- Moving after decades with one organisation must have been an enormous decision. Lidl-Trek’s recruitment has been impressive, and Niermann seems like the right person to turn those signings into a coherent team rather than just a collection of talented riders.julien09-10-2026
- Niermann is a fascinating appointment for Lidl-Trek. His experience building Grand Tour strategies at Visma should be invaluable, especially with Gall, Ayuso, Skjelmose and Gee-West all needing carefully managed leadership opportunities. It could get complicated, but the depth is exciting.robert6509-10-2026
- - ¡Qué ilusión para el ciclismo español! If Noval can combine climbing, time trialling and that mental strength, Spain may have another superstar on its hands.davidm08-10-2026
- - I’m still learning the sport—how can someone be the second-youngest WorldTour pro ever if his contract starts in 2027? Does that record depend on his exact birthday and debut date?pedalpowe2908-10-2026
Loading
