{{short description|German cycling team manager and cyclist}} {{Use British English| date=September 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Ralph Denk | image = | caption = | fullname = | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|11|1}} | birth_place = Bad Aibling, Bavaria, Germany | height = | weight = | currentteam = {{UCI team code|BOH}} | discipline = Road cycling | role = General manager | manageyears1 = 2000–? | manageteam1 = Ralph Denk Racing | manageyears2 = 2010– | manageteam2 = {{UCI team code|BOH}} }} '''Ralph Denk''' (born 1 November 1973)<ref name=Bora/> is a German cycling team manager, and former cyclist, who is the founder and manager of the Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe UCI WorldTeam cycling team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15235/1001554/279|title=Bora – Hansgrohe|work=UCI.org|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|accessdate=1 January 2021|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20210101053525/https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15235/1001554/279|archivedate=1 January 2021}}</ref> As a cyclist, Denk won multiple Bavarian Regional Championships.
==Career== Denk began cycling at the age of twelve. He won multiple Bavarian Regional Championships,<ref name=OVB>{{cite news| url= https://www.ovb-online.de/sport/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-2020-bora-hansgrohe-teamportraet-90027974.html| title= Tour de France 2020: Buchmann, Sagan und viel Talent – Der Rennstall Bora-hansgrohe im Porträt| language=de| work=Oberbayerisches Volksblatt| date=11 September 2020| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> and competed in stage races including the Bayern Rundfahrt.<ref name=TP>{{cite news| url= https://www.tekportal.net/ralph-denk-the-tour-de-france-is-the-greatest-good-sport-kg/| title= Ralph Denk: "The Tour de France is the greatest good" | work=Tek Portal| date=15 April 2020| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> Predominately an amateur cyclist, Denk also rode as a professional cyclist in 1999.<ref name=TP/> In 2000, Denk set up a bicycle shop and an eponymously named cycling team, Ralph Denk Racing.<ref name=Bora>{{cite web| url= https://www.bora-argon18.com/en/team/management| title= Team Manager Ralph Denk| publisher=Bora–Hansgrohe| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> Ralph Denk Racing competed at the 2000 and 2001 UCI Mountain Bike World Cups,<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.uci.org/news/2000/tissot-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup---2000---coupe-du-monde-mtb-xc-8---lausanne-sui---2-3-9-2000-161203| title= Tissot/UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - 2000 - Coupe du Monde MTB XC #8 - Lausanne, SUI - 2-3.9.2000| work=Union Cycliste Internationale| date=3 September 2000| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.uci.org/news/2001/xc-5-dh-dl-4-durango-colorado-usa-14-15-7-2001-161334| title= XC:#5 : DURANGO, COLORADO, USA - 14-15.7.2001| work=Union Cycliste Internationale| date=15 July 2001| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> and prior to the 2005 season, Roel Paulissen signed for the team.<ref>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.mountainbike-magazin.de/szene-news/ralph-denk-holt-sich-auch-roel-paulissen/| title= Ralph Denk holt sich auch Roel Paulissen| language=de| magazine=Mountain Bike Magazine| date=27 December 2014| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref>
In late 2009, Denk founded cycling team Team NetApp (now known as Bora–Hansgrohe);<ref name=OVB/> Team NetApp started competing in the 2010 season.<ref name=RS>{{cite web| url= https://www.radsport-news.com/sport/sportnews_85705.htm| title= Denk: "Ich habe immer an den Tour-Start geglaubt"| language=de| publisher=Rad Sport| date=31 January 2014| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> In 2012, the team was first awarded a wildcard place at the Giro d'Italia, the team's first Grand Tour entry.<ref name=RS/> In 2013, they received a wildcard entry for the Vuelta a España, and in 2014, the team was awarded its first wildcard place at the Tour de France.<ref name=RS/> In 2019, Denk criticised the World Anti-Doping Agency for granting too many drugs exemptions for cortisone and salbutamol.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.welt.de/sport/article196464023/Tour-de-France-2019-Fahrer-im-Funkschatten.html?cid=onsite.onsitesearch| title= Fahrer im Funkschatten| language=de| work=Die Welt| date=7 July 2019| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref>
After Denk chose to withdraw Bora–Hansgrohe from the 2020 Bretagne Classic Ouest–France due to a positive COVID-19 test, Denk was critical of the COVID-19 testing process, as the rider's turned out to be a false positive. He suggested that the Union Cycliste Internationale should be using A and B sample tests, as they do for drug testing.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/false-positive-virus-test-a-concern-ahead-of-tour| title= False positive virus test a concern ahead of Tour| agency=Reuters| via=The Straits Times| date=27 August 2020 |accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.t-online.de/sport/radsport/id_88462854/frankreich-rundfahrt-positiv-negativ-tour-droht-das-grosse-corona-testchaos.html| title= Positiv? Negativ! – Tour droht das große Corona-Testchaos| language=de| work=T-Online| date=26 August 2020| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> Prior to the 2020 Tour de France, Denk signed a contract extension with Bora–Hansgrohe's sponsors until 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.sportschau.de/tourdefrance/radsport-bora-hansgrohe-verlaengerung-100.html| title= Bora-hansgrohe hat Planungssicherheit bis 2024| language=de| magazine=Sportschau| date=30 August 2020| accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref> In November 2020, Denk was critical of suggestions that the 2021 UCI World Tour would be primarily in Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.sportschau.de/weitere/radsport/radsport-rueckblick-ausblick-100.html| title= Radsport – überraschend positive Bilanz, ungewisse Zukunft| language=de| work=Sportschau| date=10 November 2020| accessdate=30 November 2020}}</ref> In March 2021, Denk was critical of race protocols after Bora-Hansgrohe were forced to miss the Gent–Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen events after 17 members of the team were put into isolation following one positive test at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic.<ref>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/bora-hansgrohe-disappointed-and-angry-after-being-denied-ghent-wevelgem-start-due-to-covid-19-quarantine-494845| title=Bora-Hansgrohe 'disappointed and angry' after being denied Ghent-Wevelgem start due to Covid-19 quarantine| magazine=Cycling Weekly| date=28 March 2021| accessdate=15 April 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.bora-hansgrohe.com/en/team/management Bora–Hansgrohe team profile]
{{Bora–Hansgrohe riders}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denk, Ralph}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:German cycling coaches Category:German male cyclists Category:People from Bad Aibling Category:Cyclists from Upper Bavaria Category:Cyclists from Bavaria Category:Directeur sportifs