Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe 2026: Bikes, Roster & Equipment Preview

If money buys speed, then Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe has just bought the sound barrier. The 2026 season marks the first full year of the Red Bull ownership era, and the German squad has wasted no time in assembling a roster that rivals the “Galacticos” of football.

But looking at the team sheet, one question looms larger than the budget: Who is actually the boss?

With the arrival of Remco Evenepoel, the retention of Primož Roglič, and the shocking emergence of Florian Lipowitzas a Tour de France podium finisher, the team enters 2026 with an embarrassment of riches—and a potential tactical headache. Combined with a fleet of Specialized S-Works machinery that will undergo the rigorous “Red Bull Advanced Technologies” aero treatment, this team is the biggest technical and sporting story of the year.

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The Leadership Gridlock: Evenepoel, Roglič, or Lipowitz?

If 2025 taught us anything, it is that Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe has a “problem” that every other team dreams of: too many winners.

The arrival of Remco Evenepoel was supposed to clarify the hierarchy, but the road decided otherwise. Florian Lipowitzis no longer a prospect; after finishing 3rd at the Tour de France 2025 outperforming a fading Primož Roglič and outlasting Evenepoel’s DNF. He has staked his claim as a legitimate GC leader.

• The Remco Factor: He brings his personal lieutenant, Mattia Cattaneo, from Soudal Quick-Step, signaling he expects full support. His technical setup will focus entirely on maximizing his aerodynamic advantage in the Time Trials to force gaps on Vingegaard and Pogačar.
• The Lipowitz Threat: The German revelation proved he is the strongest pure climber on the team. While Remco demands aero-optimization, Lipowitz will likely push for the lightest possible Specialized Tarmac SL8 build to exploit the high mountains where he dropped Roglič in July.
• Primož Roglič: The veteran now faces a fight to retain his leadership status. Will he accept a “Super-Domestique” role, or does he have one last Grand Tour win in his legs?

The High-Altitude Arsenal

Beyond the central trio, the depth of climbing talent is absurd.

• Giulio Pellizzari: The young Italian is the future. After finishing 2nd in the Youth Classification at both the Giro and Vuelta in 2025, he is poised to take over the Giro d’Italia leadership soon. Expect him to test lighter wheels and components as the team grooms him for pink.
• Jai Hindley: Let’s not forget the 2022 Giro winner. In any other team except for UAE and Visma, he is the sole leader. Here, he is the ultimate wildcard capable of winning if the “Big Three” falter.

The Engine Room: Reliability Over Hype

While the leaders fight for supremacy, the support crew has been refined for pure reliability.

• Jan Tratnik: At 35, the Slovenian veteran is the ultimate road captain. Contracted through 2027, his reunion with Roglič proved vital in 2025, and he remains the glue that holds the team’s tactics together.
• Maxim Van Gils: Perhaps the most underrated asset for 2026. He has evolved into an elite support rider capable of pacing the leaders deep into the final climbs.
• Laurence Pithie: While not yet a sprint star, Pithie has settled into a role as a rock-solid domestique for the flat stages, using his durability to keep the lightweight climbers safe in the crosswinds.

The 2026 Equipment Profile

With Red Bull’s budget, we expect the team to push the limits of their Specialized partnership. The “Project Black” development program will likely be working overtime.

• Frameset: The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 remains the primary weapon.
• Groupset: SRAM RED AXS Expect the team to run massive 54/56T 1x chainrings for flat stages.
• Wheels: Roval Rapide CLX II for flat stages and the ultra-light Alpinist CLX II for the mountains.
• Tires: The team relies on Specialized Turbo Cotton and the tubeless RapidAir for race day.
• Computer: Data is tracked via the Wahoo Elemnt ROAM head units.
• Pedals: Despite using SRAM groupset, the team races with Shimano Dura Ace pedals.

Complete Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 2026 Roster

Rider Name	Nationality	2026 Role / Profile
ALEOTTI Giovanni	🇮🇹 ITA	Domestique / Climber
BOICHIS Adrien	🇫🇷 FRA	Neo-Pro All-rounder / Puncher
CATTANEO Mattia	🇮🇹 ITA	Transfer TT Specialist / Rouleur
DENZ Nico	🇩🇪 GER	Breakaway Specialist / Rouleur
DRIZNERS Jarrad	🇦🇺 AUS	Transfer Lead-out / Classics
ETXEBERRIA Haimar	🇪🇸 ESP	Transfer Puncher / Fast Finisher
EVENEPOEL Remco	🇧🇪 BEL	GC Leader / TT World Champion
FISHER-BLACK Finn	🇳🇿 NZL	Transfer Puncher / TT / Climber
HAJEK Alexander	🇦🇹 AUT	Climbing Domestique
HERZOG Emil	🇩🇪 GER	Classics / All-rounder
HINDLEY Jai	🇦🇺 AUS	GC Contender / Super Climber
LIPOWITZ Florian	🇩🇪 GER	GC Leader / Climber
MARIT Arne	🇧🇪 BEL	Transfer Sprinter / Lead-out
MARTÍNEZ Daniel Felipe	🇨🇴 COL	GC / Mountain Super Domestique
MEEUS Jordi	🇧🇪 BEL	Sprinter
MOSCON Gianni	🇮🇹 ITA	Classics / Road Captain
PELLIZZARI Giulio	🇮🇹 ITA	Climber / Breakaway
PITHIE Laurence	🇳🇿 NZL	Transfer Classics / Sprinter
ROGLIČ Primož	🇸🇮 SLO	GC Leader (Vuelta / Giro)
THORNLEY Callum	🇬🇧 GBR	Neo-Pro TT Specialist / Rouleur
TRATNIK Jan	🇸🇮 SLO	Transfer Super Domestique / Rouleur
TUCKWELL Luke	🇦🇺 AUS	Neo-Pro Climber / GC Talent
VAN DIJKE Mick	🇳🇱 NED	Transfer Classics / Lead-out
VAN DIJKE Tim	🇳🇱 NED	Transfer Classics / Rouleur
VAN GILS Maxim	🇧🇪 BEL	Transfer Puncher / Ardennes Leader
VAN POPPEL Danny	🇳🇱 NED	Lead-out Man
VERMEERSCH Gianni	🇧🇪 BEL	Transfer Gravel / Cobbled Classics
VLASOV Aleksandr	🇷🇺 RUS	GC Contender / Climber
WANDAHL Frederik	🇩🇰 DEN	All-rounder / Domestique
ZWIEHOFF Ben	🇩🇪 GER	Climber / Domestique

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 2026 confirmed roster.

This roster is stacked with 30 riders, but how does their Specialized equipment compare to the other 17 WorldTour teams? See the full grid in our [WorldTour 2026 Team Bikes Master Guide]