Dan Bigham appointed head of engineering at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

Dan Bigham, the World Hour Record Holder and Olympic silver medallist has taken up the new role of Head of Engineering at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. The team confirmed Bigham’s appointment, with his expertise in cycling and engineering set to play a crucial role in enhancing the technical performance of the team. Joining him will be Jonny Wale, with whom Bigham has worked closely on numerous projects, including the highly successful HUUB Wattbike track team and their double World Hour Record attempts in 2022.

Rolf Aldag, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Chief of Sports, expressed confidence in Bigham and Wale’s potential, stating that “with Dan and Jonny, we have absolute experts in the combination of cycling and engineering know-how.” Aldag highlighted the unique nature of the new engineering unit, which will work closely with partners like Specialized and Red Bull’s advanced technology branches. “This combination is unique in cycling and promises enormous potential,” he added.

Bigham joins the team after a recent stint at Ineos Grenadiers, where he worked as a performance engineer. He also took time off to compete for Great Britain at the Paris Olympics, helping the team secure a silver medal in the team pursuit. However, Bigham didn’t hold back in his critique of Ineos, saying, “It’s clear as day the team should be doing things a lot better.”

Speaking about his new role, Bigham shared his enthusiasm for the opportunities at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe: “For the past decade, I have balanced the life of an elite athlete with my passion for advancing the sport of cycling through engineering. Having achieved nearly everything I dreamed of on the bike, I am now ready to fully dedicate myself to supporting the next generation of winners.” He further added, “The opportunity ahead of me at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is immense. No other team can match this level of combined knowledge, capability, and expertise across its network, and I am eager to leverage it to the fullest.”

Bigham and Wale will collaborate with equipment sponsors, such as Specialized, while also integrating innovative technologies from Red Bull’s wider network, including Red Bull Advanced Technologies. The new engineering unit will focus on optimising performance in all areas of the team’s operations.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have already begun reshaping their roster, signing promising talents such as Giulio Pellizzari, Finn Fisher-Black, and Laurence Pithie, while opting not to extend contracts with established riders like Sergio Higuita, Bob Jungels, and Lennard Kämna. Additionally, rumours suggest the team may be interested in luring Remco Evenepoel away from Soudal-QuickStep, despite Primož Roglič being under contract until 2025.