With four wins in his first five races of the year, the team’s marquee signee is making an early claim to top status in the leadership hierarchy.
Cor Vos
When the Volta Comunitat Valenciana organizers decided to neutralize the GC implications of Thursday’s time trial due to high winds, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) might have decided to play it safe and treat stage 2 like a rest day. After all, it’s only February, and the double Olympic champion has far bigger objectives looming than a stage in a 2.Pro race with no impact on the overall standings.
But Evenepoel did not treat stage 2 like a rest day. Instead, he delivered on his status as pre-race favorite to secure a whopping fourth win (if you count a team time trial at the Challenge Mallorca) so far this year. Indeed, Wednesday’s sprint stage opener to the Volta was his only race day of five thus far in 2026 that did not end in a win for Evenepoel, who swept his three appearances in Challenge Mallora races last week.
For Remco and Red Bull, it’s the Tour de France or bust
In the quest to challenge the sport’s current duopoly, rider and team made the only choice they really could.
With that 80% win rate, Evenepoel is making a statement (or two) in his early showings with his new team. “There was still a stage win to grab,” Evenepoel said after Thursday’s time trial. “Also I wanted to respect the organization. They decided to keep the race going for a stage result so I decided to come and race here.”
One factor that may have motivated Evenepoel? The chance to continue marking out his claim as Red Bull’s top stage racer amid a crowded field of candidates, including Aleksandr Vlasov, who set the fastest time until Evenepoel, and Giulio Pellizzari, who finished 12th on the day.
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