{"id":123738,"date":"2026-06-24T13:25:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T13:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/24\/red-bull-says-evenepoel-leads-what-if-lipowitz-is-stronger\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T13:25:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T13:25:46","slug":"red-bull-says-evenepoel-leads-what-if-lipowitz-is-stronger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/24\/red-bull-says-evenepoel-leads-what-if-lipowitz-is-stronger\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull Says Evenepoel Leads. What If Lipowitz Is Stronger?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Red Bull names Remco Evenepoel its Tour de France leader, but Florian Lipowitz&#8217;s form could spark the Tour&#8217;s biggest soap opera.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"border-border-light border-t py-base-tight\">\n<div class=\"flex h-4 justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-x-base-tight\">\n<div class=\"\"><button class=\"inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full hover:cursor-pointer bg-bg-surface hover:bg-bg-light focus:bg-bg-dark text-primary border border-solid border-border-light aria-pressed:bg-brand-primary aria-pressed:text-text-surface py-very-tight px-base-tight gap-tight font-semibold font-utility-2 opacity-50\" aria-label=\"Loading audio\" aria-pressed=\"false\" id=\"article-listen-button\" disabled=\"\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" class=\"\"><title>Listen to this article<\/title><path d=\"M12.5265 16.2C12.2326 16.2 12.0122 16.1265 11.7184 16.053C11.2775 15.9061 10.9102 15.6122 10.6898 15.2449C10.4694 14.8775 10.3959 14.4367 10.5428 13.9959L11.5714 10.3959C11.6449 10.1755 11.7184 9.95509 11.8653 9.80815C12.0122 9.66121 12.1592 9.51427 12.3796 9.36733C12.6 9.29386 12.8204 9.2204 13.0408 9.14693C13.2612 9.14693 13.4816 9.14693 13.702 9.2204H13.7755C14.2163 9.36733 14.5837 9.58774 14.951 9.95509C14.951 9.66121 14.951 9.29386 14.951 8.99999C14.951 7.38366 14.2898 5.8408 13.1877 4.73876C12.0122 3.56325 10.5428 2.9755 8.92652 2.9755C7.31019 2.9755 5.76733 3.63672 4.66529 4.73876C3.48978 5.8408 2.82856 7.38366 2.82856 8.99999C2.82856 9.29386 2.82856 9.66121 2.82856 9.95509C3.12244 9.66121 3.56325 9.36733 4.00407 9.2204H4.07754C4.29795 9.14693 4.51835 9.14693 4.73876 9.14693C4.95917 9.14693 5.17958 9.2204 5.39999 9.36733C5.6204 9.4408 5.76733 9.58774 5.91427 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3.85713 14.2163 4.00407 14.4367C4.15101 14.6571 4.29795 14.7306 4.51835 14.8775C4.73876 14.951 4.8857 15.0245 5.10611 15.0979C5.32652 15.0979 5.54693 15.0979 5.76733 15.0245C5.98774 14.951 6.06121 14.8775 6.13468 14.7306C6.20815 14.5837 6.20815 14.4367 6.20815 14.2898L5.17958 10.6898C5.17958 10.6163 5.10611 10.5428 5.10611 10.4694C5.03264 10.4694 4.95917 10.3959 4.8857 10.3224C4.81223 10.3224 4.73876 10.249 4.66529 10.249C4.59182 10.249 4.51836 10.249 4.44489 10.249H4.37142C3.9306 10.3959 3.63672 10.6898 3.41631 11.0571C3.26938 11.351 3.19591 11.7184 3.26938 12.0857C3.34285 12.3061 3.34284 12.5265 3.41631 12.6735L3.71019 13.849ZM13.2612 10.3224C13.1877 10.3224 13.1877 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224C13.1143 10.3224 13.0408 10.3224 12.9673 10.3959C12.8939 10.4694 12.8204 10.4694 12.8204 10.4694C12.7469 10.5428 12.7469 10.6163 12.7469 10.6898L11.7184 14.2898C11.6449 14.4367 11.7184 14.5837 11.7918 14.7306C11.8653 14.8775 12.0122 14.951 12.0857 15.0245C12.3796 15.0979 12.5265 15.0979 12.7469 15.0979C12.9673 15.0979 13.1877 15.0245 13.3347 14.8775C13.5551 14.8041 13.702 14.6571 13.849 14.4367C13.9959 14.2898 14.0694 14.0694 14.1428 13.849L14.5102 12.6735C14.5837 12.5265 14.5837 12.3061 14.6571 12.1592C14.7306 11.7918 14.6571 11.4245 14.5102 11.1306C14.2898 10.7633 13.9959 10.4694 13.5551 10.3224H13.4816C13.3347 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"hidden sm:inline\">Listen<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">Evenepoel and Lipowitz will share leadership at the Tour de France 2026 for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.<!-- --> (Photo: Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Updated June 24, 2026 08:38AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/red-bull-bora-hansgrohe\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe<\/a> confirmed <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/remco-evenepoel\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Remco Evenepoel<\/a> as its <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/tour-de-france\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Tour de France<\/a> leader.<\/p>\n<p>Officially, anyway.<\/p>\n<p>The more interesting question is what happens if <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/florian-lipowitz\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Florian Lipowitz<\/a> is stronger.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull team manager <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/ralph-denk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Ralph Denk<\/a> finally broke his silence on Tour leadership this week.<\/p>\n<p>And then he left the door wide open for the mountains to overrule any orders from inside the team bus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRemco is still the team leader and Florian Lipowitz is a bit of the second man,\u201d Denk told <em>Het Laatste Nieuws<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEventually, there will come a day when one or the other feels better. Then they will have to fight it out between themselves on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Add in the money, the pressure, and two riders who both believe they belong on the podium, and you have the ingredients for the Tour\u2019s biggest soap opera.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull is the only serious Tour contender heading to Barcelona without a clear number one.<\/p>\n<p>On paper, Evenepoel is the man.<\/p>\n<p>But Denk all but admitted the road will decide.<\/p>\n<h2>The stats favor Lipowitz, the money is on Evenepoel<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_990068\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"Evenepoel Lipowitz Tour de France 2026 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"490\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-990068\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2250476094-720x490.jpg?width=750&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2250476094-720x490.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2250476094-720x490.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Lipowitz and Evenepoel say publicly there\u2019s no rift. <\/span> (Photo: Clara Margais\/picture alliance via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The awkward reality for Red Bull is that Lipowitz has been its most consistent GC rider all season.<\/p>\n<p>Podiums at Catalunya, the Basque Country and Romandie \u2014 followed by two stage wins and the overall at the Tour of Slovenia \u2014 back that up.<\/p>\n<p>But after one of cycling\u2019s most expensive transfers ever, Red Bull has to back the double Olympic gold medalist, right?<\/p>\n<p>Remco opened 2026 on fire, with seven wins before March, plus Amstel Gold and podiums at Flanders and Li\u00e8ge in the classics.<\/p>\n<p>Then he cracked at the UAE Tour and looked vulnerable at the Volta a Catalunya.<\/p>\n<p>Since Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge, Evenepoel hasn\u2019t raced at all. Just altitude camps and training blocks.<\/p>\n<p>Showing up in Barcelona after more than 60 days without racing is one of this Tour\u2019s biggest gambles.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull will let them race it out. Fans of drama and inside-the-bus intrigue couldn\u2019t be happier. <\/p>\n<h2>The road will decide<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989763\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"German Florian Lipowitz was second to Tadej Poga\u010dar at the Tour of Romandie (Photo by Til Buergy \/ AFP)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-989763\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2273802871-720x480.jpg?width=750&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2273802871-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2273802871-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">German Florian Lipowitz was second to Tadej Poga\u010dar at the Tour of Romandie and won the Tour of Slovenia this month. (Photo by Til Buergy \/ AFP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Both riders have something to prove.<\/p>\n<p>Evenepoel was third in his Tour debut in 2024 but abandoned last year. Lipowitz finished third and won white in his first Tour in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The opening half suits Evenepoel. The brutal final week may favor Lipowitz.<\/p>\n<p>Things might reach a full boil deep in the French Alps, with back-to-back summit finishes at Alpe d\u2019Huez to settle everything.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, Red Bull\u2019s biggest problem is wearing UAE colors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf everything goes normally from his perspective, it will be damn difficult to challenge him at all,\u201d Denk said of Poga\u010dar.<\/p>\n<p>Poga\u010dar has become so dominant that teams might as well throw the kitchen sink at him and hope something sticks.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull gets two chances. If one leader blows up, there\u2019s still another rider in the game.<\/p>\n<p>Not many teams can say that heading into the Tour.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Don\u2019t miss a moment of the Tour de France. Get stage previews, insider recaps, and expert analysis from Velo delivered straight to your inbox with the Velo Tour Daily email newsletter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"buy-button flex flex-col md:flex-row gap-0 md:gap-2\"><a class=\"inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full text-neutral-900 hover:cursor-pointer bg-platform hover:bg-yellow-400 py-very-tight px-base-tight gap-tight font-semibold font-utility-2 text-center hover:text-primary w-full md:w-1\/2 md:inline-block md:px-1 o-button btn\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.hsforms.com\/1AkSyZopFRe6mKt4Z8zUweg2pvvd?utm_source=articlecta&amp;utm_medium=velo&amp;utm_campaign=tourdefrance26\"><span class=\"\">Sign up for Velo\u2019s Tour Daily Newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/red-bull-evenepoel-tour-de-france-leader-lipowitz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Red Bull names Remco Evenepoel its Tour de France leader, but Florian Lipowitz&#8217;s form could spark the Tour&#8217;s biggest soap opera. Listen to this articleListen Evenepoel and Lipowitz will share leadership at the Tour de France 2026 for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. (Photo: Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) Updated June 24, 2026 08:38AM Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe confirmed Remco Evenepoel as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123738"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123738\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}