INEOS Grenadiers may get a new top sponsor for 2026 and it may lead to demise of a French team
CyclingTuesday, 11 March 2025 at 20:24
INEOS Grenadiers was at the absolute top of the cycling world in the 2010's but it's reign of dominance ended as soon as we entered the 2020's. Whilst not fully a financial issue, the British team may soon have good news as it is in talks with TotalEnergies to co-sponsor the British team.
This has been reported by Escape Collective who claim that the sponsor of the French Pro Team is in conversations, according to several sources, to sponsor INEOS. The British team has over the past few years lost many of it's leaders without signing riders who could achieve the same kind of results.
Adding to the departures the injury of Egan Bernal caused a big setback for the team, and last season several staff members and one of it's prime leaders Tom Pidcock left the team far from the best terms. The need for a change was obvious, and a modest winter transfer season didn't do the team any favours.
However the team linked up with a German under-23 project to finally have it's own (collaborative) development team, and more good news may come soon. Jean-René Bernaudeau has already this morning argued that the energy and petroleum company has a contract until at least 2026, so it's unsure whether there will be a quick change, or if any. However with it being the sole title sponsor for the French Pro Team (home to last year's Tour de France stage winner Anthony Turgis) it creates a tense situation and a potential existential threat.
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- Comments such as this is what Tadej is referring to when he says that social media is the cancer of our society.. And this guy even insists that "the conversation needs to happen". Well then, take your case to WADA sir, where such conversations are in urgent demand.FredMan04-05-2025
- Not remotely in the realm of possibility. Pharmaceutical companies spend billions (with a B) developing proprietary new drugs. There is absolutely no chance that a shadow company is exclusively developing a product for a few guys on one team in a minor sport that almost no one cares about. It sounds like you watch too many James Bond movies. Which might be better for you (and us) than speculating on something like this. UAE is doing what everyone else is doing, just a bit better. You have no idea what this is; nor do I; nor does anyone in this or any other comment section. If you don't like what you are watching, don't watch.
Barney04-05-2025 - My personal opinion is that UAE has a proprietary cocktail that isn't on the market and will probably never be on the market. It's happened before in sport. Look at BALCO and THG with the baseball situation. UAE could very well have their OWN scientists and chemists making a proprietary cocktail just for them. They have what I call "fk you money" which means UNLIMITED money. It's not out of the range of real possibilities. I've seen a few of your comments and decided to look and see what you've said in other articles. That led me to a few of your comments and I felt it would be ok to speak my opinion. Obviously my opinion doesn't go over very well with most but I've also seen people say "you are everything wrong with the sport" to you😂 and I thought maybe I can talk with this guy. You may not agree with me which is fine but the conversation needs to happen Cheers 🤘🏻🇬🇧
kaos03-05-2025 - I actually agree. Jonas and Visma put off altitude camp untill May I believe to help him closer to the TDF. I do also believe we will see Jonas retire suddenly and soon 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- This is what I've been saying but nobody is wanting to listen. I don't know if I'm right but I'd like to see the spring classics season affect Pogi at the TDF 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I can't believe how naive some people are. You must be new to this sport. The history of doping is so entrenched in this sport. It's a very real thing and it didn't stop with Lance. You're absolutely crazy if you think this sport is "clean" 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I agree mate. I've watched this sport for over 40 years and something is going on within Team UAE and its not above board. Yes they test but when has testing ever caught these massive doping programs so to say "he tests clean" is a farce. We know the testing system is a joke. The bio passport was introduced to help catch doping jut it had the opposite effect. It HELPS these dopers stay within the limits. We will probably never get "proof" about Pogi and UAE as a whole but it's clear something is going on. The entire peleton has access to the same nutrition, technology, science etc etc but when you see pogi I. THE SADDLE going up a 24% gradient, nose breathing, like he was shot from a rocket while all the other top level riders are struggling to even stop from tipping over, there's something not right. All we can hope for is for someone to come forward after their career has come to an end that was at UAE during this time. I believe we are seeing a new substance within the sport. It could very well be a proprietary cocktail made just for UAE that isn't on the market and will never be on the market so it will remain undetectable. It has happened in sport before. Look at THG made by BALCO used by baseball players. That was a proprietary cocktail that never hit the market. With all the UNLIMITED money UAE has I believe they have their own scientists making them a "special brew" that we MAY NEVER see or know about but the best chance we have of this coming out is a disgruntled ex staff member or ex rider from UAE and it may not come out for 10 or 15 years but I believe we WILL find out in years to come 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Not sure why this article popped a year after it was published. I've been saying this all of last season and all of 2025 season. Pogi has gotten arrogant. Last year was bad and this year he races with rainbow jersey so it may even be worse. I like to see that he's not had the success he wanted for 2025 tho. I was hoping that would bring him down a peg or two. One thing is certain for me tho and that's the fact that Pogi has now reached a level of arrogance and he plays nice to the cameras to make his "new" fans think he's awesome but those of us that have watched the sport for decades see right thru his act. He's fun to watch race but I've lost all interest in him after 2024 season.kaos03-05-2025
- I've not even looked at the start list for the Giro yet but I'll be watching every minute. I don't usually go for the favourite. I find it too easy to go for the favourite but I'll usually pick 2. One I THINK will win and one I would LIKE to win. I certainly don't want Ayuso to win. The lad is arrogant and he's a problem child for UAE. I'm not a big fan of UAE anyway. I feel something isn't right within their camp. One thing is for sure tho, GT's have plenty of excitement and usually some surprises and that's the fun of it all. Probably the best part of cycling is seeing new talent make a name for themselves and win stages. That's what the sport is all about for me. Lads I've never heard of that leave their mark in the sport 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Can't see Remco making an impact at the Tour. Maybe next year if he stops riding very near parked vehicles on narrow roads at speed.Renz03-05-2025