Florian Lipowitz has confirmed that his 2026 season plans are already taking shape – and that the Giro d’Italia will not be part of them. Instead, the German revelation of 2025 has set his sights firmly on a return to the Tour de France, where he hopes to once again lead Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe amid fierce in-house competition from Primoz Roglic, Remco Evenepoel and an increasingly stacked roster of GC talent.In comments collected by CyclingMagazine.de, the 25-year-old made no secret of his ambitions for the coming year. “The Giro isn’t on my schedule,” Lipowitz stated firmly during a media day in Stuttgart. “I’d really like to ride the Tour de France. It’s the biggest race in the world – I think everyone wants to be there.”

He also acknowledged that, while his Tour dream is clear, much can change before next July: “You have to see how the races go, but of course the Tour is a big goal.”


Lipowitz welcomes “challenging” Tour route

Lipowitz admitted he has only “skimmed” the 2026 Tour route, preferring to switch off during his off-season, but his first impression was simple: “Challenging.”

The final week through the Alps is expected to suit his strengths after he grew stronger as last year’s race wore on. “The last week looks extremely hard,” he said. “That can play into my favour.”

After finishing third overall and winning the best young rider’s jersey at the 2025 Tour, Lipowitz has become one of Germany’s brightest sports stars – a rider developed entirely within the BORA structure and now central to the team’s long-term ambitions. However, he is unlikely to carry the leadership burden alone next summer. “When you’re the sole leader, there’s more pressure – you have to grow into that role,” he said, hinting that a dual-captain setup could again be on the table.

Red Bull’s leadership puzzle

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s new Chief of Sports Zak Dempster has confirmed that final race plans will only be decided once the Giro and Vuelta routes are unveiled. With a line-up featuring Roglic, Evenepoel, Jai Hindley, Daniel Martinez, Aleksandr Vlasov and rising Italian Giulio Pellizzari, the German outfit faces a unique challenge: balancing its multiple GC contenders while ensuring all remain motivated and aligned.

Evenepoel’s arrival adds further intrigue. The Belgian superstar’s presence delivers global exposure for Red Bull, but the 2026 Tour’s mountainous route and limited time-trial kilometres may not suit him as well as Lipowitz or Roglic. For now, Lipowitz remains focused on his own progression. After an early end to his 2025 campaign due to health issues – and nasal surgery during the off-season – he is back in training and ready to build towards his biggest goal yet.

The final selection for the 2026 Tour de France is expected to be confirmed in December, but one thing already seems certain: Florian Lipowitz intends to be front and centre when Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe take on cycling’s greatest race.