<\/p>\n
Thomas opened with blunt clarity: \u201cThat is a big, big move. It\u2019s got to be the biggest move. I wouldn\u2019t say ever, but actually no, I\u2019d say ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the boldness of the claim, Rowe didn\u2019t disagree:\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s a shout. Biggest move ever. It\u2019s got to be up there, hasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Long contracts, high risk, and a rare mid-deal move<\/p>\n
Reflecting on how the sport has changed since they turned pro, Thomas said: \u201cWhen we turned pro, two years was standard. One year wasn\u2019t out of the blue\u2026 three years was a very long contract. Four years were almost never heard of.\u00a0Now two, three is standard, four is long, five, six exist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowe pointed out that longer deals are a double-edged sword for riders as well as teams: \u201cEven for the rider it\u2019s risky\u2026 someone coming up, and they\u2019re like, \u2018Let\u2019s get him in for five years because he\u2019s going to do something special.\u2019 But if you\u2019ve got Pog in your team or someone else, it\u2019s risky for the rider as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
And because of that, they both highlighted how unusual Evenepoel\u2019s mid-contract exit really is: \u201cThere\u2019s not many I can think of that big \u2014 especially not breaking a contract.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can Evenepoel get even better?<\/p>\n
Thomas believes the answer is yes: \u201cQuick-Step operate at a high level \u2014 they do, they\u2019re one of the best. But he can definitely get better, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowe agreed and reflected on how strange it is to see the once-\u201cyoung guys\u201d maturing: \u201cHe\u2019s still only \u2014 what is he \u2014 24, 25? Yeah, he\u2019s 25. Soon to be 26 actually in January.\u00a0You always think of young guys like they\u2019re always 23. I still see Egan as like \u2014 he must be 25 now. He\u2019s probably almost 30!<\/p>\n
But neither had any doubt: \u201cYeah, for sure he can get better.\u201d<\/p>\n
They then acknowledged the scale of the reinforcements around him: \u201cRed Bull – BORA – hansgrohe are certainly spending some money, aren\u2019t they? Even with staff in the background as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowe highlighted one name in particular: \u201cA rider who I really rate who\u2019s gone there is Jarrad Drizners\u2026 brilliant positioning, road captain, putting a guy in the right place, right time.\u00a0And they haven\u2019t lost a great deal\u2026 they\u2019ve lost some good bike riders but not the real race winners. So they\u2019ve stepped it up for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roglic, Evenepoel and Lipowitz: a leadership puzzle with no easy answer<\/p>\n
Thomas raised the key question facing Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe next season: \u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to see how it goes with Roglic, Remco and Lipowitz, won\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowe felt Lipowitz complicates things further: \u201cWith Roglic I think it\u2019ll be okay, but I think it\u2019s more Lipowitz. He\u2019s pretty chilled\u2026 but at the same time he was third in the Tour. That dynamic is going to be interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then came the real dilemma: \u201cHow are they going to split them three? Would they be boring and say one in each? Or do they say, \u2018Right, let\u2019s try and go to the Tour\u2026\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowe imagined the tactical chaos: \u201cThere were a few times this year where they passed a big call and they\u2019re on a valley road \u2014 what situation would they be in there if they had three guys in the mix?\u201d<\/p>\n
And the squad goes even deeper: \u201cThey still got Hindley, don\u2019t forget\u2026 and Vlasov\u2026 got some hitters.\u00a0And Dani Martinez still there, isn\u2019t he?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas summed it up: \u201cMate, it\u2019s a hell of a team.\u201d\u00a0Rowe added:\u00a0\u201cThree world-class podium, top-five riders in any Grand Tour really.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for sending all three to the Tour? \u201cDo they try and just go, \u2018Right, let\u2019s send three to the Tour and throw a spanner in the works\u2019?\u00a0I\u2019m not too convinced on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely\u2026 he\u2019s got to go to the Tour\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas was absolutely clear on one thing: \u201cLet\u2019s face it \u2014 there\u2019s been a bit of a thing about, \u2018Is Remco doing the Giro?\u2019 Surely if you\u2019ve spent all this money on someone, he\u2019s got to go to the Tour. No?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowe didn\u2019t hesitate: \u201cYeah. Surely.\u00a0I 100% agree\u2026 there\u2019s two sides to every argument \u2014 do we try and get him to the Giro and get a Grand Tour in the bank?\u00a0But mate, your star rider, your marquee rider with that wage bill has to go to the biggest bike race in the world. In best shape.\u201d<\/p>\n