'Was a bit afraid to say it next to Primoz, but that's the best example'; Remco Evenepoel on Red Bull-ambitions

There is no doubt about it: Remco Evenepoel is "the next big thing" at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. The Belgian was brought into Ralph Denk's team with much fanfare this winter, where they presented their new flagship rider to the global press in a film studio in Mallorca. IDLProCycling was allowed to join them.

No more Suitopia Hotel in Calpe for Evenepoel, but the heavenly 200 to 300 east Mallorca. Where Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is the only one of the WorldTour teams to hold the first training camp towards the 2026 season. 'It is beautiful here, but on the side of the island, where the sun never comes, it can be slippery,' noted the Belgian, also part-time resident on the Costa Blanca.

After his last race for Soudal Quick-Step, Il Lombardia, Evenepoel already made the necessary trips with his new team. 'My first day with the team was in Hangar 7 in Salzburg, which was already very special. All those vehicles, boats and aircraft they have there were cool to see.'

'And we also spent four or five days in the United States, testing in Specialized's wind tunnel,' continued Evenepoel, who met the British tech geeks of his new team there: Dan Bigham and Jonny Wale. 'I think they're also best friends, so they discuss everything with each other. It's impressive to see how organized they are.'

Evenepoel is thus impressed by the British former world hour-record holder ('I will also attack that record in the future') and his performance team. 'To give an example, I have been in that wind tunnel fifty times and every time everything was perfectly prepared. I find that structured planning very interesting and I am curious to see how this will develop, but so far I am very pleased with it.'

'It is quite impressive to see what all the engineers are testing here. Red Bull obviously brings in a lot of money, so that also makes it easier in that sense. But it is very nice to see that we get these opportunities and the communication is good in this team, which is also a big change. People talk about everything, every day. That's what I was looking for as well.'

Evenepoel has the most contact with his new coach, Luxembourger Dan Lorang. 'It was quite a big change, but everything is going well. We already started with some heavier efforts in the second and third week, whereas before I was just 'cycling' that first month. We are already building up the volume and communication is also going well, we speak almost every day.'

'Sometimes it is good to change, even though I have experienced super many great moments and victories with Koen,' he is referring to Dutchman Koen Pelgrim, his regular trainer at Soudal Quick-Step. 'Largely thanks to his training, but now it's time for a new chapter and hopefully a better rider.'

How that "better rider" should translate power-wise? 'I want to break all my values, from the 5 minutes to an hour,' Evenepoel says without a cent of doubt in his voice. 'You have to if you want to be the best. The team has the necessary plans to make me better and we're going to accomplish that as best we can.'

So the double Olympic champion wants to get the most out of himself, which shows in the somewhat surprising program for 2026: no Milano-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and/or Giro d'Italia. 'It's a choice we made together. The biggest point of discussion was the Giro-Tour combination, because I felt that the Giro course would suit me very well with, among other things, a nice time trial.'

'In the end, we looked at my tests and the decision was made to run a basic season in which I can hopefully continue to grow without interruptions. That's why we abandoned both ideas, but that doesn't mean anything for the future. I will compete one day,' Evenepoel solemnly promised the Belgian fans.

So the Tour is the main goal and it is no surprise that Evenepoel already knows the course quite well. "The last week is tough. And personally I am a bit disappointed with the time trial we have been given. There are so many altimeters in the course and then there is no real time trial in it, which for me is the only downside. But there are a lot of nice stages in it, although of course the mountains remain the mountains. We are also aiming for the first yellow jersey in Barcelona.'

Evenepoel will start his season extra early: "I will come to Mallorca in January for the TTT. Actually it was not really on the planning, but it is a good opportunity towards the Tour. We are going to ride there as if it were the first day of the Tour and we are going to make the most of it. It is special that we start the year with such an assignment and I might have to recover for two or three weeks (grins), but we will see how it goes. It's a great opportunity, for all teams.'

'Everyone who smells the opportunity to win a grand tour wants to win the Tour,' Evenepoel said of his and his team's shared ambition at La Grande Boucle. 'It's no secret that Pogacar has been outstanding in recent years, but we want to get as close as possible and hopefully succeed. For us it is important that we are at the start with a strong team this year, so we can prove ourselves towards the future.'

In this, Jumbo-Visma's two-way approach from 2022 - when Tadej Pogacar was trounced towards the Granon - serves as a blueprint. 'I was a bit afraid to say it on the podium because Primoz was sitting next to us and we all know how it went then unfortunately. But I think it's the best example: two strong riders, against someone who is alone - but very strong. Tadej will also have improved, but that example of Jonas and Primoz is how it should be.

'Me and Florian do differ, but precisely two different types fit well together in that respect,' Evenepoel looks at the slightly more timid German, compared to the extroverted personality that he himself is. 'And we're going to try that in other races as well,' he alludes to the Volta a Catalunya, among other intermediate destinations. With Paris as the final destination?