Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) has ended his breakthrough 2025 season and so will not ride Il Lombardia, preferring to switch off and freshen up before he teams up with Remco Evenepoel in 2026.
The 25-year-old German finished third at the Tour de France behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Jonas Vinegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and won the best young rider’s jersey with a determined ride in the final mountain stages as he fought with Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) for the final podium spot.
Lipowitz outperformed and outshone Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Primož Roglič and suddenly gave the German team a new Grand Tour and stage race contender as the deal to sign Evenepoel was completed. In 2026, Roglič is expected to target the Giro d’Italia in his final season, while Lipowitz and Evenepoel focus on the Tour de France.
Lipowitz also finished second overall at Paris-Nice, fourth at Itzulia Basque Country and third at the Critérium du Dauphiné. He raced the Deutschland Tour and the races in Canada to end his season with 52 race days.
“During the season, everything is scheduled – racing, training, recovery. There’s hardly any space to switch off. Now I have time to ride without purpose, or not ride at all. This kind of mental recovery is just as important as the physical rest.
“I’m looking forward to being at home, maybe taking a spontaneous trip somewhere, without checking a training plan first. It sounds simple, but that kind of freedom is a real luxury during the season. And at the same time, I can already feel the anticipation for next year building – but this time with completely fresh energy.”
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