Despite Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's lack of a podium finish at the Vuelta a España 2025, youngster Giulio Pellizzari has caused a stir with his outstanding performances. What impact will this have on the future distribution of roles in the team?
The youngest rider once again provided the biggest ray of hope. As in the Giro d'Italia, when he only just missed out on a stage win for the team after Primož Roglič's cancellation. Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Giulio Pellizzari also put in a good performance at the Vuelta a España 2025. On the 17th stage, a determined attack from the group of favourites brought him the stage win. "This is the best moment of my still short career. I also felt that today could be my day," he gushed.
Missed the most important goal at the Vuelta a España 2025
The 21-year-old crowned a perfect team performance with his attack. He and Jai Hindley took it in turns to attack. Of course, they benefited from the fact that Joans Vingegaard was not at his best that day. However, Tom Pidcock was no match for the Red Bull duo. The Brit defended third place overall all the way to Madrid, thus missing the most important goal of the team, which also sees itself as at least the third force in the WorldTour behind Visma | Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates. Pellizzari also had to relinquish the white jersey of the best young pro at the Bola del Mundo. However, he can take comfort in the fact that he has achieved two top ten results in Grand Tours this year. This makes him the youngest rider ever to achieve this.
Giulio Pellizzari makes people sit up and take notice
With him, the Raubling racing stable has a jewel in its collection that can perfectly complement the top star Remco Evenepoel and Germany's big talent Florian Lipowitz, who have been bought in. Another point in Pellizzari's favour is the fact that he has been able to fit in well so far and has been happy to provide assistance in Italy and Spain. "We are here to get Jai onto the podium. I can wait, my time will come," he emphasised. But he also knows how to make himself heard. "After the Giro, the Tour of Spain was removed from my programme. But then we insisted that I ride the Vuelta after all. For a rider like me, the three-week tours are important to grow," he said. He has certainly grown. It would be difficult to pass him over for the captain's role in the Grand Tours next season after his performances this season.
What's next for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe with Primož Roglič?
Jai Hindley, meanwhile, missed the chance to position himself for the upcoming battles for leadership roles. Yes, he was the best edition of himself since his Giro victory three years ago, as he himself assessed it. But that wasn't enough to jeopardise João Almeida or oust Pidcock from the podium. Finding the right place in the team for former star Primož Roglič will not be easy. His experience is certainly worth its weight in gold. At the Tour de France, however, he showed that he puts his own interests above team interests even when he is no longer the strongest man in the line-up. That harbours explosive potential. But perhaps Pellizzari can help out here too. He is the team's good-humoured spreader. "I just love to have fun, both on the bus and during the race," he confessed to TOUR.
