Ineos Grenadiers have confirmed their continued commitment to the team beyond the 2025 season. CEO John Allert announced during a media call with Cyclingnews that the team aims to secure a second title sponsor to enhance their budget, allowing them to compete with the sport’s leading teams. Despite unfounded speculation of dissatisfaction from team owner Jim Ratcliffe, Allert assured that Ratcliffe remains dedicated to the team’s future. “We are lucky to have owners passionate about this sport,” Allert stated.
To realise their goals, Ineos Grenadiers have enlisted an external agency to find a major title sponsor. This move could help maintain or even increase their reported budget of fifty million Euros. Allert admitted, “Ineos don’t want to spend more money,” highlighting the team’s strategy to attract additional brands and forms of investment. While rumours swirl about potential investments, Allert clarified that no new deals are imminent.
Recent performance and leadership changes
In 2024, Ineos Grenadiers slipped to seventh place in the UCI team rankings, clinching only six WorldTour victories, including the Amstel Gold Race with Tom Pidcock. However, Pidcock has departed for Q36.5 following a protracted dispute. Riders like Filippo Ganna, Josh Tarling, Carlos Rodrรญguez, Egan Bernal, and Geraint Thomas remain as prominent figures. However, the Welsh rider Thomas is set to retire at the end of 2025.
The team has not secured a Tour de France win since 2019, with UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike having usurped their previous dominance. Scott Drawer has taken over as Performance Director, marking his second year in the role, while Zak Dempster and Kurt Arvesen now lead as directeurs sportifs after Steve Cummings left to join Jayco AlUla. Their mission is clear: “We need to come back and win bike races, start to win stages,” Arvesen stated, acknowledging the challenge of returning to Grand Tour victories.
Performance and restructuring
Scott Drawer has revamped Ineos Grenadiers’ performance team, integrating non-cycling specialists to modernise and optimise their approach. The organisation lacks an Under 23 development team but has established partnerships with Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank Continental to nurture emerging talent. Drawer has also implemented three performance streams to focus on Grand Tours, one-day Classics, and Performance Races.
Drawer highlighted shifts in the cycling landscape, with new talent like Tadej Pogaฤar redefining the sport alongside the advent of super teams and advancements in performance science. “The trends in racing style, particularly pre and post-COVID, have changed the type of cyclists in the peloton,” Drawer observed. To adapt, Ineos Grenadiers are restructuring to stay ahead. “Our motivation in our approach to racing is going to be very different, and there will be a bigger investment in talent,” he added.
Despite recent challenges, Allert and the team remain optimistic about their future. “It might take one, two, three or four years before weโre back, winning a Grand Tour, but Iโm convinced weโre going to be,” Arvesen expressed. The team’s focus on adaptation and investment in new strategies aims to regain their position at the forefront of competitive cycling.
