Egan Bernal returns to lead INEOS Grenadiers in search of glory in the mountains of Catalunya
Cycling
Without a big name to hunt for the general classification, INEOS Grenadiers can only pleasantly surprise in the grand scheme of things during the upcoming Volta a Catalunya. Perhaps, we'll see the British formation take on a new role of stage hunters?
Just a month passed since his crash at Clássica Jáen but Egan Bernal is already back in the action. The Colombian rider was originally due to lead the charge of INEOS at the Giro d'Italia, however whether he'll be ready to pick up the lead already in Catalunya? What we know for sure he'll at the very least try - that's the Bernal we know after all.
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But the realistic leader for INEOS Grenadiers should probably be Laurens De Plus. The 29-year-old didn't have the best Tirreno-Adriatico, but he already proved to be in great shape at the start of the season with a GC podium at Volta ao Algarve where he lost only to Jonas Vingegaard and Joao Almeida.
If we're to speak of a back-up, the name of Geraint Thomas obviously pops up. For the experienced Welshman it's not unusual to take the early months of season easy with view to his main objectives - typically Grand Tours - and with Geraint's one and only goal in the final year as a pro being the Tour de France, he's unlikely to play a crucial role in Catalunya.
However who may leave a mark in the history of the Spanish stage race is Axel Laurance. Albeit not a GC contender as we're used to with INEOS, the Frenchman will have a more than good shot at winning up to four, but not less than two stages. The only issue will be the obvious lack of support in the easier stages, where only Omar Fraile, Lucas Hamilton and Michael Leonard are far from designated, or even sufficient sprint train.
INEOS Grenadiers lineup for 2025 Volta a Catalunya:
- Egan Bernal
- Laurens De Plus
- Omar Fraile
- Lucas Hamilton
- Axel Laurance
- Michael Leonard
- Geraint Thomas
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- Sweet. I wonder who's up on the next episode of Disgraced Ex-Doper Offers an Unsolicited Opinion?critguy26-03-2025
- well, paris-roubaix isn’t hilly AT ALL. it’s flat. the obstacle isn’t the hills it’s the cobbles, and what i’ve gathered over the years is that it’s almost impossible to imagine the beating that the body takes riding that course at race pace.OCexile26-03-2025
- Is Paris Roubaix hilly enough for Pogi to crack the other classics guys? Bring it on, it's going to be an exciting show!Ride197426-03-2025
- I don't care if you comment on LA articles. But it's counterproductive to do so, the more comments, the more clicks, the more such articles there will bevappaxbipmv26-03-2025
- I love listening to Geraint Thomas, he is such a great sportsman.awp26-03-2025
- Liege or Amstel are a little different. Only he knows what really works for him. I'm a bit disappointed that he is not going to focus on any other races potentially until the Dauphine. If you don't have race days in the legs no matter how good you are it generally gives a negative result. I had argued that he knew what works for him the other day but he seems to have maybe a mental block or is still a bit gun shy from last year's crash, which to be honest, was pretty bad. He might be in his last season or two. I hope not because he can still do quite a bit of winning if he gets his head right.awp26-03-2025
- Do you need a tissue since I seem to have offended you with my comment?frieders326-03-2025
- You mean Liege or Amstel or Flech doesn't play to his abilities ? That's a cop out !frieders326-03-2025
- He beat a field of second rate sprinters....yawn!frieders326-03-2025
- He didn't beat any top class sprinters in this race so slow the roll!frieders326-03-2025