Ineos Grenadiers have unveiled their team for the 2024 Tour de France, featuring star riders Carlos Rodríguez and 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal leading their General Classification (GC) ambitions.
Rodríguez had an impressive Tour in 2023, clinching a stage win ahead of Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar on stage 14 and finishing fifth overall in Paris despite a late crash. Coming off a recent stage win at the Critérium du Dauphiné and overall victory at the Tour de Romandie, he’s set to lead the charge across France. “Carlos has continued to impress us with his racing as well as his professionalism and attitude on and off the bike,” said Performance Director Scott Drawer.
Rodríguez, meanwhile, remains confident in his preparation, despite a slower start to the year than anticipated. “My preparation has gone well so far, and I feel confident that I will be starting in Florence in the best shape possible. I had a slower start to the year than I wanted but have turned that around and the legs are now feeling good, and my body is responding well,” he said.
Bernal, the 2019 Tour winner, has been on a remarkable journey back to form following a severe crash in 2022. He showed signs of his old self at the Tour de Suisse earlier this month, finishing fourth overall. He expressed his excitement, saying, “I am very happy to be selected again. My ambition is to be really competitive and to be someone who can make a real difference in the race.”
Supporting Rodríguez and Bernal are experienced riders like former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock. Thomas, fresh from a podium at the Giro d’Italia, will be participating in his 13th Tour and 21st Grand Tour. While he isn’t planning a GC charge, he’s looking forward to racing with less pressure: “Personally, I am looking forward to racing with a bit less pressure and more freedom to mix it up and try to get really stuck in,” he said.
Pidcock, who is eyeing another stage win, is also focusing on defending his Olympic MTB title shortly after the Tour ends. Reflecting on his preparation, he said, “The opening few stages this year present a real opportunity but there are many riders with eyes on the yellow jersey. After a block at altitude and then getting back to racing at the Tour de Suisse, I was improving every day and I had my best day on the TT bike, which is very promising.”
Joining the team are Ben Turner, Jonathan Castroviejo, Laurens De Plus, and Michał Kwiatkowski, adding a mix of talented youth and experience to the squad.
Ineos Grenadiers 2024 Tour de France squad
- Carlos Rodríguez
- Egan Bernal
- Geraint Thomas
- Tom Pidcock
- Ben Turner
- Jonathan Castroviejo
- Laurens De Plus
- Michał Kwiatkowski
