INEOS Grenadiers sign experienced Australian climber - "We believe in his talent and potential"

INEOS Grenadiers are changing their approach to racing next season, focusing less on Grand Tours and more on the classics and elsewhere. This Friday morning they have announced their first signing in quite a long time: Team Jayco AlUla's Lucas Hamilton.

Hamilton is the sixth addition to the 2025 team, joining the likes of Bob Jungels, Axel Laurance and Victor Langellotti who is set to be the first-ever rider from Monaco to race in the World Tour. Hamilton is another signing to add firepower to the mountainous and hilly races, likely not in a leader role but support for his leaders or stage hunting in which he has succeeded in the Australian team.

The 28-year old has shown a lot of potential in previous years, winning the GC at the 2019 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico in 2020 and also impressed with a fourth place at the 2021 Paris-Nice. Hamilton has prominently been a reliable domestique for Simon Yates, but with the Briton departing for Visma, his role was also not quite necessary anymore. His 2024 season was complicated and lacking results, so INEOS perhaps cashed in a good deal with a rider who has proven himself repeatedly in the past.

“Lucas has shown what he can do in the past and we believe in his talent and potential as a bike rider. He will fit in well with his fellow riders and we are confident he will respond to the support we put around him with our new coaching and performance set up," team performance director Scott Drawer said of the newest signing.

“A big part of what we’re working towards is not only strengthening our rider roster but also entrenching a new approach within the team. Lucas’ experience across a wide variety of races means that he slots into an important area for us where he will also be able to support our impressive crop of young and emerging talent.”

Hamilton himself is set to make a move towards a team where he has the opportunity to gain quite a bit of exposure: “I’m incredibly excited to join the INEOS Grenadiers. For many years I have watched the team’s success from the outside, and I’ve always held a deep respect for their achievements. Being a part of such a prestigious organization is a great opportunity for me and I look forward to contributing to the team’s ongoing success. I can’t wait to get started and work alongside my new teammates!”