OFFICIAL: Geraint Thomas welcomes two former teammates to DS ranks as INEOS continue attempt to bring back Team Sky glory days
Cycling
The INEOS Grenadiers have confirmed two major additions to their 2026 leadership structure, announcing that Elia Viviani and Daryl Impey will join the team as Sports Directors next season. The pair arrive with more than three decades of combined racing experience and become central figures in the squad’s renewed push to restore the dominance once associated with the Team Sky era.
Viviani returns to the organisation after having had spells at both Team Sky and the INEOS Grenadiers during a glittering career on both road and track. A former Olympic champion and Tour de France stage winner, he spent three seasons as a rider with the Grenadiers before retiring earlier this year.
“I’m thrilled to return to the team that has always felt like home, firstly as a rider but now as part of the staff,” he said in the team’s official announcement. “I want to give my absolute best to support the riders and share everything I’ve learned throughout my career. The team is entering a new era and I’m excited to be part of this challenge.”
Impey arrives with a decorated background of his own. The South African became the first African rider ever to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France in 2013, later adding a Tour stage win in 2019 before retiring at the end of 2023. Since then, he has already transitioned successfully into a Sports Director role.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the riders and staff and playing a part in the team’s ambitions for the future,” he said. “Having started my career as a teammate of Geraint’s, it’s really special to be reunited now as colleagues. When the opportunity came to join a team with such a clear mission and vision, it was an easy decision to join.”
Thomas calls duo ‘excellent additions’
The appointments come as part of the team’s wider restructuring under Geraint Thomas, who stepped into the Director of Racing role earlier this year. Thomas welcomed the arrival of both Viviani and Impey, emphasising the impact their backgrounds can have inside the organisation.
“Elia and Daryl are excellent additions to our team. Their experience, professionalism and leadership qualities will add real value to the INEOS Grenadiers,” he said. “They will also bring fresh ideas and perspectives into an established environment which is really important for our growth as a team, as we continue to challenge ourselves in every area.”
INEOS have spent the past two seasons reshaping the structure around their sporting project, with Thomas repeatedly stressing the importance of cultural reset, stronger communication, and a renewed racing identity. The arrival of Viviani and Impey, two respected figures with deep WorldTour histories, fits directly within that shift as the team looks to re-establish itself as a major force in the sport heading into 2026 and beyond.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Join us in welcoming @eliaviviani and @darylimpey as they step into Sport Director roles with the Grenadiers 🚀🤩 Two riders with incredible palmares, we’re excited to see them begin a new chapter with the team 🤝👊 ineosgrenadiers.com/news/viviani-a…
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