After more than 10 years of successful collaboration, in which countless successes were achieved and we built up the team together, BORA – hansgrohe will be bringing new impetus in the sportive management of the team. The 53-year-old Aldag brings with him wide-ranging experience and will be in charge of the sportive agenda of the Raubling-based WorldTeam from 2022.
“This was probably the most difficult decision for me in the last 10 years, because I owe Enrico a great debt of gratitude. We worked our way up together from the third division to the WorldTour, going through pretty much all the highs and lows imaginable, and I will always have fond memories of these shared times. In the last few months, however, I have become more and more aware that if we want to develop further as a team, we will likely also need a change in sportive management. It’s not that I’m not happy with the results – we’ve all done a good job together over the past few years – but cycling has changed and we have to adapt to those changes to keep up. During the long time we have been together, many routines have crept into the sportive management that are incredibly difficult to change. That’s why I have decided to break new ground here. We have many young riders in our ranks and we’d like to build them up strategically and systematically. To this end, we have defined clear goals over the recent weeks and redistributed tasks internally. As far as the sportive management is concerned, we are in the final stages of our planning.
Rolf brings vast experience to our team and I am very happy that I was able to inspire him with our project. I had already indicated that we’d like to use the changes that have been initiated this year to further develop ourselves in different areas. Strategically, the sportive management was a key area for us following departure of Enrico Poitschke, and I think the solution we have found is an optimal one. Rolf was instrumental in the success of HTC-Highroad, he was technical director at Omega Pharma-Quickstep, he has been involved in women’s cycling and he has helped Dimension Data move up to the WorldTour, making cycling popular in Africa. I think one can see that cycling is his passion and that is something which connects us. Even from our first talks, we held the same vision regarding the direction we want to take BORA – hansgrohe in the future. In addition, Rolf has worked intensively with Specialized in the past and that is also an important factor for us. He will take over the sportive management of the team and will also be able to assist us thanks to his experience in material development. For me, Rolf is a clear asset to BORA – hansgrohe by virtue of his extensive experience, technical know-how and commitment.” – Ralph Denk, Team Manager
“Of course, I am disappointed and the decision came as a surprise to me. I have built up the team together with Ralph Denk over the past ten years and I believe that we have done a very good job together. However, Ralph would like bring new impetus in the future and this decision must be accepted. Nevertheless, I will keep the past years in my memories, because despite the high level of commitment that was expected, there were undoubtedly wonderful moments – our first Tour de France appearance with Leopold König, the stage victories in the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta, and successes in the Tour with Peter, Lennard, Nils, Patrick and Emu. Of course, our victory at Paris-Roubaix in 2018 was outstanding. I am proud that all these successes also bear my signature. Cycling is my passion and we will see in which form I will continue to be connected to it.” – Enrico Poitschke
“I am very much looking forward to my new role at BORA – hansgrohe and am pleased to see the trust that Ralph Denk has placed in me. The team has been an integral part of the international cycling scene for over a decade and is constantly growing. The reliability of its partners and the long-term thinking of the team management were very important factors in my decision to become part of BORA – hansgrohe. Ralph has managed to bring together a very talented group of riders for 2022. Now it’s about forming a successful team with these athletes, the sportive management as well as the coaches, which will inspire cycling fans with an attacking riding style. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Enrico, because thanks to his continuous good work in the past, it’s now possible for us to tackle new goals at an absolute world class level.” – Rolf Aldag
