"They’ll have the freedom to go for it and race aggressively" - INEOS Tour de France team announcement features surprising omission and new tactic
Cycling
Netcompany INEOS has confirmed the lineup for the 2026 Tour de France, which starts this Saturday in Barcelona. The British squad brings a roster packed with experience, quality, and riders able to shine on all terrain, with a clear plan: race on the offensive across the three weeks.
From the opening team time trial to the final finish, the team intends to animate an edition that promises to be one of the toughest and most spectacular in recent years, however, Carlos Rodriguez will not be present to do so in a surprising omission.
The team’s road director, Geraint Thomas, made clear what the squad’s philosophy will be during the Grande Boucle.
He said: "This team has some great racers who people love to watch. They’ll have the freedom to go for it and race aggressively across the three weeks. Fortune favours the brave. We didn't come to this Tour to follow the race - we came to shape it."
Thomas on team time trial and Tour de France
"Barcelona’s team time trial presents a great opportunity to start strongly. This year we’ve performed well in this discipline so will give it everything we’ve got. From there, it’s going to be full-on and we’re ready to take on the challenge."
One of the team’s standard-bearers will again be Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour de France champion, who returns with a fresh opportunity to fight among the best after regaining a high competitive level.
“The Tour de France is a very special race for me and I’m grateful and happy to compete at this level again. I feel good, motivated, and ready to give everything for this group of riders,” said the Colombian.
Egan Bernal, estrella de NetCompany INEOS.
Alongside him will be Kévin Vauquelin, one of the standout revelations of French cycling in recent years. After finishing seventh in the 2025 Tour general classification, the Frenchman arrives with freedom to go on the offensive both in the high mountains and on medium-mountain stages.
The Netcompany INEOS block blends climbers with some of the peloton’s best rouleurs. Filippo Ganna, multiple world time trial champion, will be a key figure on the flat and against the clock, while Josh Tarling, one of the discipline’s brightest talents, will make his Grande Boucle debut.
The roster also features highly experienced riders such as Michał Kwiatkowski, who will act as road captain, as well as Tobias Foss, Dorian Godon, and Thymen Arensman, a multiple Grand Tour stage winner and one of the riders tipped to shine in the high mountains.
Arensman himself expressed his excitement at returning to the Tour after racing the Giro d’Italia.
“I’m very happy and proud to be selected for this year’s Tour. I think riding the Giro d’Italia is very good preparation and I’ve taken time to recover and look after my body. I have very good memories from last year’s Tour and I’m motivated to be back there and see what we can achieve. We have a strong team and excellent group dynamics, which is always very important.”
Read also
Netcompany INEOS lineup for the 2026 Tour de France
| Rider | Country |
| Thymen Arensman | Netherlands |
| Egan Bernal | Colombia |
| Tobias Foss | Norway |
| Filippo Ganna | Italy |
| Dorian Godon | France |
| Michał Kwiatkowski | Poland |
| Josh Tarling | United Kingdom |
| Kévin Vauquelin | France |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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