Primoz Roglic and BORA-hansgrohe would welcome arrival of Red Bull as major sponsor

If all goes well, the global energy drink giant Red Bull will acquire a minority stake in the BORA-hansgrohe cycling team in the future. The deal still needs to be approved by the Austrian government, but the key players from the German team couldn't hide their enthusiasm on Mallorca when speaking to IDLProCycling.com.

Team boss Ralph Denk, if everything is validated, will transfer 51% of the shares of the cycling team to Red Bull. An objection to the impending deal can still be made until the end of this month. "Red Bull intends to expand its involvement in road cycling and aims to cooperate with BORA - hansgrohe," the team confirmed earlier. "By becoming a partner in team manager Ralph Denk's company, Red Bull aims to complement the portfolio of existing main sponsors for the team's long-term, who will remain on a long-term basis."

When asked about the precise developments in the case, the German team boss had to keep his lips sealed for the time being. "We need confirmation from the government, but it could be a very strategic move," Denk confirmed. "We can further grow. The sport has changed significantly in recent years, with increasingly higher budgets. We need to respond to that, and I want to run a competitive team. This could be the next step for us, and I hope for it, but we have to wait for the final confirmation."

Denk, Aldag, and Roglic are fervently hoping for white smoke from Red Bull and the Austrian authorities

BORA-hansgrohe announced on Wednesday that it is fully committed to winning the Tour de France with Primoz Roglic, who will have a top team including Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov, Danny van Poppel, and Daniel Felipe Martínez. With Red Bull, the team may gain even more financial strength. "I'm already 50," Denk responds with a big smile when asked why he would sell part of his shares. "I've known Red Bull for the past few years with great projects and a good partnership." The company also supports the junior team of the squad, in addition to Max Verstappen and Wout van Aert, as well as rider Anton Palzer.

"But we have to wait. The evolution of the sport in general is that Red Bull can make a difference, but it's too early to talk about it concretely," Denk points out. Sport Director Rolf Aldag echoes similar sentiments. "We have the goal of transferring 51% of the shares to Red Bull, which we are very happy with as a team. We already have a partnership and have been working together for a long time, so we know what they can add. However, the facts are yet to come. But, well, I've never seen anything less when Red Bull gets involved," to which Roglic, sitting next to him, eagerly adds, "I think it would be fantastic too. Red Bull gives you wings," he says with a laugh, drawing on his background in ski jumping to cleverly market the concept of flying with hand gestures during the German team's media day. And in his own unique way, he adds a fun twist to the sensitive topic, at least until January 26th.