INEOS Grenadiers sign Victor Langellotti - Monaco's first-ever World Tour rider

It is not everyday that a new country will find itself in the World Tour. Monaco, the small European micronation is the residence of plenty pro riders including Tadej Pogacar however they have never had a rider at the top level of cycling. This will finally happen as Victor Langellotti will race for the colours of INEOS Grenadiers from 2025 onward.

“I’m extremely excited to join the team next season, it’s a dream come true," Langellotti said in a press release. "When I was a junior and then an under-23 rider, Team Sky was the dominant and most successful team in cycling, and I grew up in awe of their success. The wins of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, and others inspired me, and I always hoped to be a part of it one day. I still can’t believe that I will join the team that both made me dream and revolutionised our sport.

INEOS have a key base in the city of Nice, right across the border; many of it's riders and staff are based in the area. The team naturally has an attraction for Monaco which likely has had an influence in the signing of the 29-year old, but he also comes in after proving himself as a rider worthy of racing at the top levle.

“I’m really looking forward to reaching my potential here, to learn from the riders and the staff and help the future leaders of the team to the best of my ability. It’s truly a great honour to be an INEOS Grenadier.” Langellotti comes from Burgos-BH where he has raced since turning pro in 2018.

He is a climber who is expected to become a domestique within the team. In 2022 he was at the head of the KOM classification at the Vuelta a España for a few days and made history for the country. He won a stage at the Volta a Portugal in 2022, his first pro win; but last year he won a mountain stage at the Tour of Turkey beating Alexey Lutsenko and BORA signing Giulio Pellizzari. He has shown steady evolution as a pro rider and is now taking the leap.

“He’s an experienced operator who’s also shown that if the opportunity arises, he can take on a race himself and fight for a result," team performance manager Scott Drawer added. "Ultimately, he’ll be with us to provide a key support role in mid to high mountains. We believe he’s on an upward trajectory, and getting better and better.

“We’re really looking forward to having him with us and integrating him quickly into our group. The Team’s in an exciting phase, and Victor will have a role to play in the future GC ambitions that we have.”