ANALYSIS | Who should the INEOS Grenadiers sign for 2026 with Thomas and Brailsford in charge

The INEOS Grenadiers look set to enter next year’s 2026 season in the midst of a major transition. The team has clawed its way back from the depths of 2024, when they managed just 14 wins, to 24 victories so far this year. That improvement has stabilised them as seventh in the UCI rankings, but it’s still far from their dominant years under the Team Sky banner. There are some big changes looming at the team, as rumours suggest that Geraint Thomas will step into the Head of Racing role after retiring at the 2025 Tour of Britain, bringing a rider’s perspective to management, while Dave Brailsford’s return to overseeing transfers marks a clear intent to improve recruitment. With a new sponsorship deal underway with TotalEnergies, and more changes anticipated at the top, INEOS’s signings this winter will shape the next chapter.

Brailsford’s influence has historically meant a mix of marquee signings and shrewd long-term investments, while Thomas’s presence suggests more rider input into decisions and a stronger emphasis on British talent.

The team’s current Grand Tour picture needs that overhaul: Tom Pidcock of course moved to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team earlier this year, Carlos Rodriguez hasn’t repeated his 2023 Tour promise, and Egan Bernal, while improving, still lacks the final edge to consistently challenge for overall wins. Thymen Arensman’s two stage victories at the 2025 Tour de France were a much-needed highlight, but the squad remains short of multiple top-tier GC options.

To reclaim their place at cycling’s top table, INEOS must target riders who can win now and develop into leaders for years to come. So, here are three signings that fit the bill, and would help the team in their mission to climb back up the rankings.

British cycling history with this team is written by names like Wiggins, Froome, and Thomas, and Oscar Onley has the talent to be the next. The 22-year-old Scot was the breakout star of the 2025 Tour de France, finishing fourth overall behind Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Lipowitz.

His climbing strength and composure under pressure marked him out as a GC rider with the potential to contend for yellow in the coming years. At just 22, he already has a Grand Tour top five to his name, something even many champions didn’t manage at that age.

Bringing him into the Grenadiers setup would not only strengthen their long-term GC prospects but also reconnect the team to its tradition of British leadership. Under Thomas’s watch and with Brailsford’s backing, Onley could be developed into the rider to lead INEOS back to Tour glory.

Hear me out. Yes, this one is a long shot, but it’s an exciting thought. Almeida is the ultimate all-rounder in a three-week race, and his proved his worth and ability time and time again.

At UAE Team Emirates - XRG, he plays the role of loyal lieutenant to Pogacar, but there’s a strong case that he could be a Grand Tour winner in his own right. Without the broken rib suffered at the Tour de France this year, he might have stood on the podium while still helping Pogacar win.

His 2025 season has been remarkable: victories at Itzulia Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse in succession. He’s also a Giro stage winner and former podium finisher, and is set to co-lead UAE with Juan Ayuso at the Vuelta later this month. The hurdle for INEOS is his likely contract extension until 2028, but the attraction is obvious, he’s consistent, versatile, and exactly the kind of proven leader they have lacked for over four years.

At 24, Skjelmose is already one of the most promising young riders in the peloton. Contracted to Lidl–Trek through 2026, he might seem unavailable, but circumstances could tempt him. He claimed the young rider classification at the Vuelta last summer and produced one of the shocks of the season this spring by outsprinting Evenepoel and Pogačar at Amstel Gold Race.

He’s got a rare mix of Classics strength, stage race consistency, and time trial ability, and still has plenty of time to improve into a grand tour podium threat. At Lidl–Trek, leadership opportunities at the Tour de France may be limited by the presence of Jonathan Milan and Mads Pedersen. INEOS could offer him a clear GC pathway and the backing of a squad built around his ambitions.

One things for sure, 2026, and the years that follow, will see a transitionary period for the INEOS Grenadiers. They don’t have the talent they once had at their disposal, and they missed out in the race to sign Remco Evenepoel. Clearly, they will struggle to challenge for grand tours in the near future.

But, with Thomas moving into a management role, Brailsford back in charge of recruitment, the Grenadiers may still have the structure to succeed. But the right signings will determine whether that structure translates into results. Onley offers homegrown promise, Almeida brings proven three-week reliability, and Skjelmose could still develop into a top talent. But can INEOS realistically sign any of them?