Red Bull attacks UAE, but Eurosport analysts miss the multi-winners: "Van Gils needs to win a monument"

Maxim Van Gils, Laurence Pithie, and Oier Lazkano are Red Bull's three most important new riders, but a rider like Jan Tratnik can also play a crucial role for its leaders. In addition, the Van Dijke brothers, whom we talked about earlier, should not be forgotten. And then we also have Finn Fisher-Black and Giulio Pelliazari. In a nutshell, a can of strong riders has been pulled open.

In Eurosport's podcast Kop over Kop, Bobbie Traksel sees a clear strategy behind the team's growth. "If you want to build a big and strong house, you must start with a solid base." Red Bull seems to understand that principle well, as that strong foundation seems to be in place to grow into the best team in the world.

The Eurosport analysts agree. Host Sander Valentijn said the team has taken a huge step and is already getting close. "I look at the new names and the selection, and then I think: this is the third best team in the World Tour!"

Yet doubts remain about the actual winner's instinct within the selection. "They didn't have a good season last year outside Roglic's win in the Vuelta. The riders coming are all strong, but are they winner types?" Jeroen Vanbelleghem observes.

The width of a team is essential, but without a few multi-winners, you won't get there. To become the best team, you must beat UAE Team Emirates - XRG, a team with 81 victories in 2024.

"I think the most recent acquisition is Maxim Van Gils, but otherwise, I see reinforcements mainly in the width. They still don't have enough finishers. Still, with Roglič, Vlasov, Hindley, and Martínez, they can gather enough points in the grand tours to become the third team," Vanbelleghem said. Jan Hermsen agrees. Accordingly, the commentator expects a lot from that biggest purchase. 'More is expected next year. Van Gils should reach the podium of a monument and maybe even win a monument."

Therefore, the analysts see only one solution: getting Evenepoel. Traksel sees the past winter acquisitions as a first step toward that goal. "To build a big and strong house, you must start with a powerful base." Vanbelleghem questions this: "That's true. And then next year, they will surely buy Evenepoel?"

Traksel ventures that prediction. "Exactly. If that happens, we'll talk about the team very differently. They are just building here. The foundation was laid last year, and halfway through the year, Red Bull said from the performance center: now we will do it. You have seen the turnaround coming. Red Bull is going to continue to build inTraksel takes a chance on that prediction. Exactly. If that happens, we'll talk about the team very differently. They are just building here. The foundation was laid last year, and halfway through the year, Red Bull said from the performance center: now we will do it. You have seen the turnaround coming. In the coming years, Red Bull will continue to build and become the best team in the world."