“I'm building a love affair with the Tour de France” – Kevin Vauquelin explains INEOS Grenadiers ambitions for 2026

Kevin Vauquelin’s rise has been one of French cycling’s most promising stories of recent years, and now, after trying to help Arkéa–B&B Hotels fight for survival and sponsors, the 24-year-old will take the next leap of his career by joining INEOS Grenadiers in 2026. Seventh at this year’s Tour de France, Vauquelin has earned his place among the sport’s most versatile young riders. His transfer marks a major statement for both the rider and the team looking to rebuild its grand tour core.

“It's a logical choice. It's always been a dream team for me,” he told Eurosport. “I come from the track, we know how demanding the British are about performance, sometimes ahead of certain nations. It's always resonated with me. In my quest to exploit 100% of my potential, I think it's wise. It also allows me to get out of my comfort zone. I grew up with Arkéa, I had my ‘family’ there. I need to get away from all that and confront myself with even stronger and more experienced riders.”

For Vauquelin, INEOS represents not just a bigger platform, but a new way of challenging himself. “I signed with a leader, a rider who can influence the race. The summer helped quite a bit in that regard. It's a team that can really suit me, which had a few fewer profiles like mine, and which is getting back on track. It's an opportunity to take the experience of INEOS and to bring it, too, with the resourceful side that I was able to have with Arkéa, where I built myself as a person.”

Still young, he insists his goals remain fluid. “I'm still discovering myself, looking for the field of expression that suits me best. But my big goal is to win a one-week race. I think it's becoming more and more possible. I'm thinking of Paris-Nice, for example. In the case of a team time trial, being with INEOS Grenadiers with potentially Filippo Ganna, Thymen Arensman, Magnus Sheffield and this time trial expertise is advantageous... even if it will hurt my legs.”

His reflections on this year’s Tour reveal how quickly his perspective is evolving. “I arrived at this Tour thinking I was going to aim for a stage win and try to be the best I could in Normandy. Boosted by my Tour de Suisse, I just wanted to race at the front, be well-placed, and have an impact on the race. I enjoyed that, and it led me to want to compete in the general classification, treating every stage like a one-day race. As my teammates and staff members can attest, I said, ‘I'll never do that, I'll never be here just to follow and do a general classification.’ Ultimately, it revealed a new side of me, mentally. It was more than beneficial.”

Vauquelin’s style could offer INEOS a new spark. “I'm an offensive rider. I'm going to build the general classification with attacks. I'd rather cross the line completely dead after trying than cross it after just following. I'll feel it, instinctively. If I feel it's not for me, I won't do it. I'm not looking to please a crowd, but rather to show my character. If I thrive more in one-day or one-week races, maybe that's the direction I'll go in and perform, in the style of Julian Alaphilippe. He had a very good Tour de France but he didn't repeat the experience because he was an attacker.”

Even so, his ambitions for July remain undimmed. “I'm building a love affair with the Tour de France. It's the most famous race, the most important. So, why not try to fight for it in July instead?”