INEOS Grenadiers have confirmed a significant restructure of their sporting leadership, appointing three former riders to senior performance roles ahead of the 2026 season. Geraint Thomas becomes the team’s new Director of Racing, joined by Elia Viviani and Daryl Impey as Sport Directors. The appointments mark a decisive shift towards experience-led leadership, drawing directly from riders who helped define the team’s most successful era.
Geraint Thomas steps up as Director of Racing
After bringing the curtain down on one of the most accomplished careers in British cycling history, Geraint Thomas now moves into a newly created strategic position at INEOS Grenadiers. As Director of Racing, he will help shape race strategy, recruitment, development pathways, and the day-to-day readiness of the squad, working alongside Sir Dave Brailsford, Dr Scott Drawer, and the senior management team.
Thomas’ connection to the organisation is unparalleled. A founding member of the team in 2010, he evolved from Classics specialist to Grand Tour winner, claiming the Tour de France in 2018, finishing on multiple Grand Tour podiums, and winning stage races including Paris–Nice, the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse. He also earned two Olympic titles on the track.
Reflecting on the transition, Thomas said he sees the role as “a natural next step” and emphasised his desire to help guide the next generation.
“This team has been my home since day one. I now want to continue building on our past success and push the team towards winning Grand Tours again.”
Sir Dave Brailsford highlighted the values Thomas brings into leadership.
“He typifies what it means to be a Grenadier. He knows every part of the elite performance process, and his ability to mentor others will be a real asset.”
Viviani returns, Impey reunites – new voices for a new era
Alongside Thomas, the Grenadiers add two seasoned figures to the sporting staff. Elia Viviani and Daryl Impey will join as Sport Directors, each bringing a distinct racing background and long-standing familiarity with high-level performance environments.
Viviani returns to the team after retiring from a career that spanned Grand Tour stage wins, a Giro d’Italia points jersey, and more than 90 professional victories. He also won Olympic gold in the omnium and three world titles on the track.
“I’m thrilled to return to the team that has always felt like home,” he said. “I want to give my best to support the riders and share everything I’ve learned.”
Impey arrives with more than a decade of tactical racing experience, having won stages at the Tour de France, worn the yellow jersey, and secured multiple national titles. After stepping into sports direction following his retirement in 2023, he now takes on his first WorldTour post.
“I’ve raced against the INEOS Grenadiers for many years, so it’s great to now be working together. It’s special to reunite with Geraint as colleagues.”
Thomas welcomed the duo as “excellent additions”, praising their professionalism, tactical insight, and the fresh perspective they will bring to the performance environment.
A renewed direction grounded in experience
Taken together, the appointments signal a renewed internal identity at INEOS Grenadiers: one built on continuity, shared history, and long-term ambition. Thomas’ deep institutional knowledge, Viviani’s race-winning nous, and Impey’s leadership in chaotic race scenarios provide complementary skill sets at a time when the team is recalibrating its competitive goals.
While the Grenadiers have long relied on technological innovation and structural precision, these moves lean firmly into rider-driven expertise. With three former pros now embedded in the top layers of the performance structure, the team is preparing for 2026 with a reshaped philosophy – and a clear statement that experience developed within the Grenadiers is now central to defining what comes next.
