Remco Evenepoel teams up with Florian Lipowitz for Tour de France 2026

**Remco Evenepoel** confirmed on 3 July 2026 that he will ride the Tour de France alongside **Florian Lipowitz** for Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe, targeting the coveted third‑place podium slot.

Evenepoel’s move to the German‑based squad was announced last summer, but the real chemistry emerged this season. After a string of victories in Spain, the UAE and the Ardennes, the Belgian skipped the Tour Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes to focus on a new coaching set‑up. He switched from Dan Lorang to Tim Heemskerk, a former Visma‑Le Sage‑a‑Bike aide who left that team in early 2026. The duo’s quick alignment made the joint Tour plan a "no‑brainer," Evenepoel explained.

Both riders have worn the white jersey in the past two years, and their combined strength could force rivals like **Tadej Pogačar**, **Jonas Vingegaard** and **Jai Seixas** into a tactical scramble. Lipowitz, who finished third overall and claimed the young rider classification in the 2025 Tour, has already taken podium spots at the Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Romandie this year. Evenepoel adds a Grand Tour win‑track record and a recent Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège podium, giving the squad a rare blend of youth and proven endurance.

Evenepoel logged 25 race days in three months, then rested after Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège on 15 April 2026. The pause allowed him to integrate Heemskerk’s methods without the fatigue of a full‑season schedule. Lipowitz, meanwhile, was the sole major contender at the Tour of Slovenia in June, where Pogačar claimed victory. That win gave Lipowitz confidence but also highlighted the gap he still needs to bridge before the Tour de France.

The Belgian, now 26, says the season’s preparation feels solid, yet he admits the ultimate test will be the three‑week mountain grind. He noted, "I’m trying to be as open as possible with him, and for the moment, that’s been going well." Lipowitz echoed the sentiment, calling the last weeks "quite happy" but cautioning that the Tour is "always a special race" and outcomes remain uncertain.

If Evenepoel and Lipowitz can work together on key stages, they may create a numerical advantage that forces Pogačar and Vingegaard to chase. Their combined climbing and time‑trial abilities could see them contesting the final podium, potentially reshaping the traditional duopoly that has dominated the last decade.

Red Bull‑Bora‑Hansgrohe will fine‑tune their race plan during the final training camp in the Pyrenees, scheduled for the first week of July. Both riders will also test their form in a short criterium on 22 July, giving fans a glimpse of the tactics they might employ on the Champs‑Élysées.

The partnership marks a bold shift in Tour strategy, and all eyes will be on how Evenepoel and Lipowitz translate their season‑long collaboration into a decisive move on the road.