ANALYSIS | Are we witnessing the demise of the INEOS Grenadiers?

The INEOS Grenadiers were once the dominant force in professional cycling, but they have endured one of their most challenging seasons to date in 2024. A team that once dominated the Grand Tours with legendary riders like Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, and Bradley Wiggins, now finds itself struggling to reclaim its place at the top of the sport.

The 2024 season, in particular, exposed the stark contrast between their former glory and their current struggles, as the team failed to make an impact in the biggest races of the year. Lets take a look at what went wrong, for what was once cycling’s greatest team.

The worst Tour de France performance?

One of the most glaring low points of INEOS' 2024 season came at the Tour de France. Historically, the Tour has been the crown jewel of INEOS' success, with the team having won the race seven times in the 2010s. However, their 2024 campaign was arguably their worst in recent memory. For the first time in years, INEOS failed to win a single stage at the Tour, and their general classification hopes crumbled early on.

Carlos Rodriguez, the team’s brightest prospect, managed to finish in seventh place overall, but his performance was overshadowed by the dominance of Tadej Pogacar, who was in an entirely different race to the INEOS riders. Rodriguez finished a staggering 25 minutes behind the Slovenian, highlighting the growing gulf between INEOS and the current elite teams, including UAE Team Emirates and Team Visma Lease a Bike.

For a team that once set the standard for performance and domination at the Tour, this result was difficult to swallow. INEOS, once feared for their ability to control mountain stages and dominate time trials, were barely a presence in the key stages. Gone were the days when the team would dictate the pace in the peloton, protecting their leader until the decisive moments. Instead, they appeared weakened and unable to respond to the aggressive tactics of their rivals.

The struggles of 2024 are a far cry from the team's dominance during the 2010s. Back then, INEOS, then known as Team Sky, were the gold standard in professional cycling. Their meticulous attention to detail, cutting-edge technology, and disciplined tactics saw them dominate the Grand Tours, winning the Tour de France seven times between 2012 and 2019.

Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, and Bradley Wiggins became household names, each securing their place in cycling history. The team was known for their "marginal gains" philosophy, focusing on every small detail to gain an advantage over their competitors. Their success was not limited to the Tour de France, as they also won the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana multiple times, establishing themselves as the most formidable team in the peloton.

However, the rise of riders like Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard has left INEOS trailing in their dust. These new stars, along with their equally impressive teams, have exposed the vulnerabilities of a squad that once seemed invincible. UAE Team Emirates and Visma have adopted the same scientific approach to training and preparation, but with younger, more dynamic rosters, they have outpaced INEOS in recent years. But is it that their riders are simply quicker, stronger, better? Or is INEOS fall off linked with problems further up in the chain of command?

Tension in the hierarchy

The problems for INEOS in 2024 extended beyond their on-road struggles. There were already rumblings of unrest within the management team before the Tour de France, and these issues only worsened as the season progressed.

Steve Cummings, a key figure in the team's sports director staff, was notably absent from the Tour de France this year. Cummings, himself a former Tour stage winner, had been an important part of INEOS' strategy in previous years, as seen in the Netflix series Tour de France: Unchained. However, for reasons that remain unclear, he was left out of the 2024 Tour de France, sparking rumours of disagreement within the team hierarchy.

In his place, Zak Dempster led the team as the sports director for the Tour, having also overseen their efforts at the Giro d'Italia earlier in the season. Cummings' absence did not go unnoticed, and it reportedly caused further tension within the team. Tom Pidcock, one of INEOS' star riders, was quoted by Cycling Weekly as saying that things would be "better" without Cummings present, suggesting deeper issues behind the scenes.

Cummings was also left out of the team's Vuelta a Espana and the Lidl Deutschland Tour, further fuelling speculation that all is not well within the INEOS camp. For a team that prides itself on cohesion and meticulous planning, these internal conflicts have undoubtedly contributed to their underwhelming performance on the road. The well oiled machine, is certainly on the ropes.

Further key departures

INEOS also suffered from high-profile departures in 2024, with Dan Bigham, their Head of Engineering, leaving to join Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe. Bigham had been a crucial part of the team's time-trial development, helping riders like Filippo Ganna and Joshua Tarling excel in this discipline. His decision to leave INEOS was telling, as he cited disagreements with the team’s approach to performance.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Bigham explained his frustrations with the team's leadership: “It’s not particularly a me versus Scott (Drawer) thing at all. It’s more just how I see performance. How I want to do performance is not particularly aligned with how INEOS wanted to go about it." He added, "I feel that a lot of performance we’re leaving on the table and that frustrates me because it’s clear as day we should be doing things a lot better.”

Bigham’s departure underscores the larger issues within INEOS. Despite their enormous budget and access to top-tier resources, the team is struggling to keep up with the likes of UAE Team Emirates and Visma Lease a Bike. Bigham’s critique of the team's decision-making suggests that INEOS is no longer the cutting-edge operation it once was, with other teams surpassing them in terms of innovation and performance.

The Tom Pidcock drama

The future of one of INEOS’ most talented riders, Tom Pidcock, is also uncertain. Pidcock, the reigning two time Olympic mountain bike champion and winner of the 2024 Amstel Gold Race, has reportedly been unhappy with his role within the team. After his stunning victory on Alpe d'Huez in the 2022 Tour de France, Pidcock was expected to develop into a Grand Tour contender. However, his progress has stalled, and he has been overshadowed by the rise of Carlos Rodriguez within the team.

Pidcock’s relationship with the INEOS management team has reportedly soured, leading to rumors that he could leave the team. Gazzetta dello Sport recently reported significant interest from Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, a Swiss ProTeam that is backed by Red Bull, one of Pidcock’s personal sponsors. The team’s owner, who recently acquired the Pinarello bike brand, is said to be keen to sign Pidcock, further adding to the speculation about his future.

Can INEOS bounce back?

As the 2024 season draws to a close, INEOS faces an uncertain future. The team that once ruled the Grand Tours now finds itself in a state of decline, with internal conflicts, strategic missteps, and a lack of results on the road. Their inability to adapt to the rise of Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel, has left them playing catch-up, and their struggles this year have raised serious questions about their ability to return to the top.

However, INEOS still has a talented roster and the financial backing to rebuild. If they can resolve the internal issues that have plagued them this season and make the right strategic decisions, there is no reason why they can’t return to the top of the sport. But for now, 2024 will go down as a year to forget for a team that once seemed untouchable.