"Perfectly capable of winning a Grand Tour within two or three years" - INEOS teammate backs up Kévin Vauquelin's future success
Cycling
Victor Langellotti signed with INEOS Grenadiers in 2025 and proved to be a successful transfer for the British team. Last season he proved to be able to fight for victories at a high level, which grants him more opportunities this year. He is looking forward to that, and also teaming up with riders such as Kévin Vauquelin, whom he believes has the potential to win the Tour de France within a few years.
"I'm quite satisfied with how last season went, with real progress throughout the year. It's satisfying. I even managed to win once, in the WorldTour. It was an honor and frankly beyond my expectations for this first year with the team. Now, I hope to continue this momentum," Langellotti said in words to DirectVelo.
The 30-year old was a relative surprise transfer two winters ago, moving over from Burgos Burpellet BH where he had been since 2018. He did a wide variety of races and roles, before finding his form into the Tour of Norway where he finished second only behind Matthew Brennan in the overall classification. Later in the summer, he would win one of the summit finishes at the Tour de Pologne, which saw him go into the final time trial in the race lead - he eventually finished fifth in the overall classification.
"I wasn't necessarily expecting it to happen so quickly, or in that way. Afterwards, with everything that's been said to me, I realized that this victory and the way I did it... It made an impression on people, and it's always a great pleasure to talk about it," he said of his victory in Poland. "I took the yellow jersey that day, it was fantastic. It was a historic moment for Monegasque sport. I realized that when I returned from Poland; I even received a message from the Prince."
Langellotti was the winner of a Tour de Pologne stage in 2025
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Season debut at the Tour de la Provence
Now in 2026, he is going to have more opportunities to lead and fight for his own results. His presence at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali would usually fit him very well; whilst he is then also racing the Itzulia Basque Country ahead of the Ardennes classics.
"The team has been significantly strengthened; we have riders capable of winning on all types of terrain throughout the season. Every rider will have opportunities at some point, myself included [...] Now that I've taken on a bit more responsibility within the team, I've been able to discuss a more personalized program this year".
Later in the year, he is set to race the Vuelta a España, starting off from his home in Monaco, and where there are often hilly stages that suit his skillset. His season began at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana, although he withdrew on stage 4; and is today starting the Tour de la Provence where he will be in a supporting role.
"I'll be a domestique, supporting Carlos [Rodriguez] for the overall classification, but also Dorian [Godon] and Axel [Laurance] for the other two stages. In certain very high-level races, I'll have my chance to shine".
Praise for Kévin Vauquelin
Whilst not directly a compatriot, Langellotti is also very keen on the signing of Kévin Vauquelin, whom he believes can take a big step now that he joined the British team. "When you see what Kévin Vauquelin did last year at Arkéa, with no disrespect to his former team, he's going to take a step forward by joining us, and I see him as perfectly capable of winning a Grand Tour within two or three years," he stated clearly.
Langellotti is very positive on what the future of INEOS may look like. "Oscar Onley finished fourth in the last Tour de France; he's capable of that too".
"When you see what Pippo (Filippo Ganna, ed.) did at Milano - Sanremo last year, who can tell us he shouldn't be starting this year with the ambition to win," he argues. "I don't see why we wouldn't have that ambition. It will be very difficult, obviously, but it's possible. We're one of those rare teams that can potentially win anywhere".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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