Georg Steinhauser will leave EF Education-EasyPost at the end of 2026 to join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, bringing one of Germany’s most exciting young climbers into the German WorldTour team for the next stage of his career.
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe confirmed Steinhauser’s signing on Thursday, with the 24-year-old set to make the move for the 2027 season after five years within the EF structure.
The transfer also reunites Steinhauser with Florian Lipowitz, with the pair having raced together for two seasons before either reached the professional ranks. Their careers subsequently took different routes, but both have developed into two of Germany’s most prominent stage-racing talents.
“I am really excited about the next years with Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe,” Steinhauser said.
Paris-Nice podium showed Steinhauser’s GC progression
Steinhauser’s move follows another important step forward during the 2026 season.
He finished third overall at Paris-Nice and won the young rider classification, adding a high-level general classification result to the attacking mountain performances that had previously defined much of his reputation.
That result reinforced the idea that Steinhauser can become more than a rider targeting individual mountain stages. His climbing strength has been apparent for several seasons, but maintaining his performance across a full week against WorldTour stage-racing opposition provided a different indication of his potential.
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Chief of Sports Zak Dempster believes there is considerably more development to come.
“Georg combines climbing ability, race intelligence and an attacking mindset,” Dempster said. “He has earned his success through hard work over the past few years, and we believe he is still far from reaching his full potential.
“Together, we want to continue supporting his development and provide the best possible environment for him to take the next step in his career.”
Giro stage win remains Steinhauser’s breakthrough result
Steinhauser first established himself as one of Germany’s leading young professionals during the 2024 Giro d’Italia.
After finishing third behind Tadej Pogačar and Nairo Quintana on Stage 15, he went even better two days later. Steinhauser attacked from the breakaway and rode clear on the Passo Brocon to take his first professional victory, eventually finishing 1:24 ahead of Pogačar. ProCyclingUK’s report from Steinhauser’s solo Giro stage victory remains one of the clearest demonstrations of the aggressive climbing style Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe are now adding to their roster.
He has continued to be used as an attacking mountain option with EF since then, including during the 2026 Tour de France, where he formed part of an aggressive squad alongside Richard Carapaz and Ben Healy.
The Paris-Nice result this season, however, suggests that the next stage of his career could increasingly involve riding for classifications of his own rather than relying primarily on breakaways.
A return to a German team has personal appeal
Steinhauser has spent his entire WorldTour career with EF Education-EasyPost, but the opportunity to join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe carries an obvious personal attraction.
“When I was young, I was always a fan of this team and have been impressed by how they kept reaching one goal after another,” Steinhauser said.
“Joining a German team with a very professional and international approach will certainly be a good platform for me to progress.”
He does not expect that progression to mean riding exclusively as a protected leader. Steinhauser specifically highlighted the possibility of combining his own attacking opportunities with working for the team’s established GC riders.
“I hope to be able to add to the team’s success with my aggressive style, but also in a strong support role,” he said. “I’m ready to create lasting memories in the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe kit.”
Steinhauser and Lipowitz reunited at WorldTour level
The presence of Lipowitz adds another interesting dimension to the transfer.
The two Germans raced together before turning professional, but Lipowitz subsequently developed inside the Bora structure while Steinhauser joined EF. Lipowitz’s breakthrough included third overall and the white jersey at the 2025 Tour de France, establishing him as a genuine Grand Tour contender. ProCyclingUK looked at that rise in detail after Lipowitz secured the Tour podium and best young rider classification.
Steinhauser now joins a considerably deeper stage-racing structure than the one the pair knew before turning professional. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe can use him as mountain support around its leading GC riders, but his Paris-Nice performance also gives the team another rider who can be protected when the programme and route allow.
That dual role appears to be central to the signing. Steinhauser has already proved he can win major mountain stages through aggressive racing. In 2026, he has begun showing that he can also turn that climbing ability into a sustained general classification challenge.
From 2027, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe will take responsibility for finding out how much further he can go.
