OFFICIAL: INEOS Grenadiers have their sprinter! Aussie ace signs on two-year deal

INEOS Grenadiers have confirmed a significant shift in their race-winning ambitions for 2026 and beyond, announcing the signing of Australian sprinter Sam Welsford on a two-year contract.

The move brings one of the WorldTour’s most explosive finishers into a squad better known in recent seasons for stage racing and Classics control rather than pure bunch sprints. For INEOS, it represents a clear statement of intent to add consistent sprint victories back into their programme.

Welsford arrives with a reputation already firmly established. The Australian has repeatedly proven himself at the highest level, including six stage wins at the Tour Down Under, and has developed into a regular threat whenever races finish at high speed. His power and positioning have also made him effective beyond flat sprint stages, particularly in harder one-day terrain.

“I’m really excited to become a Grenadier,” Welsford said in an official press release. “I’ve always admired the team’s professionalism and the way they commit fully to a goal.”

The 2026 season will mark a new chapter for Welsford as he integrates into a structure designed around marginal gains and precision race execution. He will work closely with recently retired sprinter Elia Viviani, now part of the sport director group, alongside the team’s wider performance staff.

For Welsford, the environment was a major factor in the move.

“I feel like this is the exact right environment for me to keep progressing as a sprinter and to chase big results,” he said. “I’m very hungry to contribute, to learn and to race with the kind of intent that this team is renowned for.”

From the team’s perspective, Welsford fills a specific and deliberate gap. While sprinting has not always been a core focus for INEOS Grenadiers, the team believes his profile fits their existing strengths in positioning, control and lead-out execution.

“We haven’t had many sprinters in the team in the past but when we have, they’ve been pretty successful,” said Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing. “Hopefully Sam can continue that history.”

Thomas pointed to the physical data and early assessments that convinced the team there is more still to come from the Australian.

“Having been given an early insight into what he’s capable of physically, we believe there’s still plenty to unlock with Sam,” he said. “The team has shown how dialled we are in positioning our fast guys for the finish, and we’ll do the same to give him opportunities to win.”

Welsford’s background on the track also played a key role in the decision. An Olympic and multiple world champion in the team pursuit, he brings a skill set built around timing, coordination and collective execution.

“He’s got a great track pedigree,” Thomas said. “So the way he’s used to working there will fit right into our team environment as well. I’m super excited to see him get stuck in.”

As INEOS Grenadiers look ahead to 2026, the signing of Welsford signals a broader approach to race wins across the calendar. With a dedicated sprinter now in place, the team adds another dimension to its tactical options and opens the door to a renewed presence in high-speed finishes.