INEOS Grenadiers snatch a young coach from Unibet Rose Rockets: "It’s a real privilege to work with them"

Unibet Rose Rockets are no longer just "the fun guys who also do races as a side gig". Behind the facade of a playful organization that takes itself only half-seriously at times is a professional structure of a high quality with experts across many fields, including nutrition, scouting or coaching. While regular cycling fans might be still getting used to the sight of Rockets' bright colours in the peloton, their rivals from the bunch have already picked up on their high quality work. That includes INEOS Grenadiers.

The British top WorldTour team recruited one of Unibet's staff, coach Boy Sanders. The 30-year-old Dutchman joins the team following in the footsteps of his older brother Dajo Sanders, who is head coach at the team. He made the switch in 2022 from Team DSM to the British formation, alongside Thymen Arensman.

Boy Sanders will primarily work with the team's newly-founded INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy. The directly-supervised under-23 structure was long missing as a stepping stone in INEOS' talent pipeline.

As a consequence, many riders such as Carlos Rodríguez, Michael Leonard or Andrew August had to arguably make the step to WorldTour a year or two earlier than would've been necessary.

That is where Sanders will find his primary role, although he will be involved with the main team's riders as well.

"Today marks the moment I officially close a chapter at Unibet Rose Rockets and step fully into my coaching role at INEOS Grenadiers, working across both the new Racing Academy and WT team," he wrote on his social media.

"I’m incredibly grateful and honoured for this new opportunity, and it’s a real privilege to work with a team that has been leading in many aspects of the development of professional cycling over the past years," according to Sanders.

"I’m incredibly thankful to the Rockets for everything I’ve experienced with the team over the past years and I wish them all the best in chasing their dreams. I’m proud to have been part of your journey," Sanders wrote. "But I’m also very excited for the next chapter in my career."