Lipowitz changes skin: more classic in 2027

Florian Lipowitz is preparing for a small revolution. The German, one of the most promising stage racers in the peloton, wants to change his approach in 2027 and add more classic and one-day races to his calendar, to become a more complete athlete.

In an interview with ARD , Lipowitz put the idea bluntly: "I simply need to focus a little more on one-day races and improve there." Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team manager Ralph Denk agrees and sees this decision as a benefit for his abilities as a general classification racer.

"I would even welcome it, because one-day races are even more competitive than stage races," Denk said, quoted by Eurosport Germany . The manager, however, clarified that "it has to be the right choice" for one of the German team's key leaders: "It's a delicate balance."

A 2026 season on the rise, broken at the most beautiful moment

Lipowitz, a former Tour de France podium finisher in his third year as a professional, began 2026 with a schedule consisting solely of week-long stage races and the Tour de France. The only exception was the dress rehearsal team time trial at the Trophée Ses Salines, before his injury forced him to retire.

His performances then improved race after race: eighth in the Algarve, third in Catalunya, second in the Basque Country and Romandie, until he won the Tour of Slovenia. At the Tour de France, his race was interrupted in the time trial of stage 16. On one of the tightest corners, he crashed heavily and broke his collarbone, abandoning the race while he was fifth in the general classification and in full contention for the podium.

"At that moment, I felt really sorry for him," Denk said, explaining how he reassured Lipowitz, who had started the Tour as co-leader with Remco Evenepoel. "We made it clear to him that in the first part of the season, he was at the level of the best. He achieved podiums in Catalunya, the Basque Country, and Romandie. He also won the Tour of Slovenia."

The German returned to racing at the Giro della Toscana, 50 days after his crash, and closed the season with four one-day races, including the World Championships in Montreal, where he finished 47th.

The goal: the World Championships in Haute-Savoie

Denk already has a specific target in mind: next year's grueling Road World Championships in Haute-Savoie. This is all the more reason to include other classics in the lead-up to the event.

"The World Championships are incredibly tough, with 5,000 meters of elevation gain, and it's exactly the right terrain for Florian," the team manager explained. "That's why it would be good for him to do one or two races a day earlier."

Lipowitz was also supposed to ride in the Giro di Lombardia to support Evenepoel, but had to withdraw due to illness. Denk is convinced the 26-year-old would have played a "good role": "We missed him, due to illness. I would have liked to have him with us." Evenepoel finished fourth, while Paul Seixas won solo.

Lipowitz and Evenepoel: When and where will they race?

At the Tour, the two co-leaders briefly clashed when Evenepoel rebuked his teammate for not giving him the lead-out on stage 6. The team and riders cleared the air the next morning. The crash prevented a full understanding of the coexistence between the two, but Evenepoel's second-place finish behind Pogačar cemented his role as the team's primary leader.

Nothing has yet been decided regarding the leadership of the 2027 Grand Tours. The decisions will be made official on December 11th, at the team's media day. However, it seems unlikely that Evenepoel won't return to the Tour, although he has left the door open to a possible return to the Giro d'Italia.

Lipowitz, considered the German team's first home rider and an important figure for German and Austrian sponsors, can count on a third-place finish at the 2025 Tour to return to France. However, Denk and his staff may want to spread the rankings on several fronts, especially since Primož Roglič will be leaving the team.

"It's a debatable issue. The outcome is still open," Denk said. The Tour route will be revealed on Thursday, October 22nd, while the Giro and Vuelta routes will be announced between November and December.

In 2026, Red Bull finished on the podium in all three Grand Tours: third in the Giro with Hindley, second in the Tour with Evenepoel, and second in the Vuelta with Roglič. Denk noted that "we've already won the Giro and we know what it feels like. It certainly has its charm." They could therefore send one of their two main leaders to Italy, although that spot could go to Hindley or Italians Giulio Pellizzari and Lorenzo Finn, with Evenepoel and Lipowitz still together at the Tour.