Hindley Returns to Leadership
For Hindley, this marks a return to Grand Tour leadership after playing a supporting role at the Tour de France over recent seasons. The 29-year-old has proven pedigree in three-week races and will aim to contend on a route tailor-made for climbers. The 2025 Vuelta features no fewer than ten summit finishes — including legendary ascents like the Alto de l’Angliru and Bola del Mundo — and concludes with a potentially decisive individual time trial in the final days.
Hindley’s form has been steadily building through the summer, and with the GC responsibilities squarely on his shoulders, he’ll look to challenge against the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Carlos RodrÃguez, and other top contenders. While it’s uncertain if he’ll be fighting for red in Madrid, Hindley is a proven quantity when the race hits the high mountains.
Primoz Roglic took home the Red Jersey for the team last year
A Squad Built for More Than GC
But Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s ambitions for this Vuelta extend beyond the general classification. Without Roglic — who claimed overall victory in 2024 — this is a team less weighed down by expectation and more able to race dynamically across a route packed with opportunities.
Giulio Pellizzari, one of Italy’s most exciting young climbers, returns for his second Grand Tour of the season after turning heads at the Giro d’Italia. The 21-year-old will likely serve as both a climbing domestique for Hindley and a wildcard for breakaway stages in the high mountains.
Joining Pellizzari and Hindley are Giovanni Aleotti and Nico Denz — both of whom were part of the Giro squad earlier this year — bringing continuity and cohesion to the team’s core. Aleotti has quietly become a dependable stage-race presence, while Denz provides both climbing support and the engine to cover long-range breakaways.
Further versatility comes from Matteo Sobrero and Finn Fisher-Black. The former, an accomplished time trialist, will have his eyes on the final-week TT, while the latter continues his development as an all-rounder capable of shaping transitional stages.
Rounding out the lineup are Jonas Koch and Tim van Dijke, two riders well-suited to controlling flat stages, assisting in crosswinds, and targeting breakaway success in medium-mountain terrain.
Patxi Vila: “We will support Jai, but also looking for some stage victories”
“For sure, we have Jai Hindley as our GC leader within a very balanced team. We will be competitive, trying to be in the action, race aggressively, and support Jai, but also looking for some stage victories. That’s a main goal for us as well,” explains sports director Patxi Vila of the team tactics in a press release on the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe website.
“Jai is our leader, but with a balanced team we can be protagonists on several stages and aim to take some wins,” he adds. “While it’s not easy to pinpoint an exact expectation for Jai at the moment, he is a Grand Tour winner, a solid rider, and he has already shown that he has the legs to win a three-week race.”
UPDATE
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe have since announced a late change to their lineup. Sadly illness has struck Jonas Koch, with Ben Zwiehoff being called up in his place.
“Unfortunately, Jonas Koch got sick before the start of La Vuelta. Ben Zwiehoff is stepping in to take his place,” reads the team’s official announcement on social media. “Get well soon, Jonas – and all the best, Ben!”Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe for the 2025 Vuelta a Espana
Jai Hindley
Giulio Pellizzari
Giovanni Aleotti
Nico Denz
Finn Fisher-Black
Matteo Sobrero
Jonas Koch Ben Zwiehoff
Tim van Dijke