INEOS set to promote exciting British prospect to World Tour team as tenth addition in chaotic transfer market
Cycling
The winds of change are blowing hard at Netcompany INEOS. With nine new additions to their World Tour squad already confirmed, the British team are set to promote a home-grown prospect to their ranks in 2027 in what would be the tenth new face in the team.
Of course, the squad hasn't grown larger than it was at the beginning of the 2026 season. Geraint Thomas's charges have endured a chaotic transfer market that has seen no fewer than ten riders confirm their exits from the team. Six riders' status are not yet confirmed for 2027, although some deals may already be done behind closed doors and not yet announced.
Nonetheless, just 22 riders are officially on their books for the 2027 season. But according to journalist Daniel Benson, that number is now 23 as the squad are set to promote 21-year-old Matthew Dodd from their development team, Netcompany INEOS Racing Academy.
Dodd is one of British cycling's most exciting prospects. A gifted climber, but competent as an all-rounder, he represented the World Tour team at races such as Giro d'Abruzzo and Paris-Tours this season and also won a stage of coveted U23 race Ronde l'Isard in 2026.
He also finished 5th in the elite race at the British National Championships this year and has consistently proven to be a strong time triallist. Although he hasn't made a mark in general classification at the Giro Next Gen or Tour de l'Avenir, he did take the KOM jersey at the Giro in an impressive performance.
Benjamín Noval, gold medallist at the Cycling World Championships
INEOS add another young British rider to their ranks
INEOS appear to have doubled down on their bet on the future with the arrival of Dodd. Coinciding with their straight-to-World Tour acquisition of world champion Benjamin Noval, the team's dynamics appear to be changing as they form a core of young riders.
With Oscar Onley and Joshua Tarling already accomplished and just 24 and 22 respectively, the team have also brought in 21-year-old Markel Beloki as well as former Tour de l'Avenir winner Jospeh Blackmore - who endured a brutal injury-marred year that included just three race days.
However, the new additions come in the wake of high-profile departures, including Filippo Ganna's exit to Lidl-Trek and other English-speaking core riders such as Andrew August, Magnus Sheffield, Ben Turner and Sam Welsford.
Will INEOS bounce back in 2027?
Although the team picked up 36 wins in the 2026 season, Director of Racing Thomas admitted that results alone don't gloss over a mixed season for the British team. He wants his charges to rise to the challenge of building a force to challenge Tadej Pogacar or succeed him in the future.
"I say this to the team all the time, doesn't matter if it's, oh, you're close to your best, or I'm matching what I did last year. You got to be better. You got to be striving to do more and more. And that's what I was always like.
"I think we've got to always believe and always keep trying to be the best. I think Pog can continue to get better. But why can't everybody else? And then who knows how much better they can get?"
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He added: "Certainly next year you're looking at it thinking it's tough, but otherwise we'd all just stop. You need to believe that you can build up to something, and there's always going to be someone out there.
"He's going to stop at some point, and we want to be in the position to be there or be competitive when he's still competitive,” he said. “But certainly once he stops, be there ready to take it."
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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