Take2 weeks ago
Mezgec retires into a defined job: mentoring Magagnotti
Luka Mezgec is retiring and joining Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as sports director from 2027, a role he signed for during the 2026 Tour de France. His main task will be mentoring 19-year-old sprinter Alessio Magagnotti through his move into the professional ranks. That turns a 14-season career with 19 wins into a next chapter built on developing one rider, not on managing a legacy.
What this means
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe now has a defined succession plan for Magagnotti's transition to the WorldTour, built around Mezgec specifically rather than the sports director role generally.
Mezgec said he picked Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe from three options he was weighing for life after racing. The contract runs two years. Magagnotti is part of the Red Bull Rookie squad and already has a Deutschland Tour stage win as a stagiaire this summer, so he arrives with a result, not just potential. Mezgec himself won 19 races across 14 WorldTour seasons, including the final stage of the 2014 Giro d'Italia — the first Slovenian to win a Giro stage. He frames the move as passing that experience on rather than stepping away from it.
Sources
Luka Mezgec announces new role as sports director at top WorldTour team following imminent retirement after European ChampionshipsLuka Mezgec announces new role at WorldTour team after retirementLuka Mezgec will be Remco Evenepoel's team leader next yearLuka Mezgec dyrektorem sportowym w Red BullMezgec lands a first Giro d'Italia win for SloveniaLuka Mezgec to retire at home race before joining Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as sports director
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