"The focus will not be on the GC as much as before" - New INEOS sports director lays out plan for success going forward
Cycling
2024 has been an alarming year for fans of the INEOS Grenadiers. Already no longer the powerhouse of the peloton they once were, this year the British-based team have slipped even further down the totem poll, whilst behind the scenes dramas have leaked into public consciousness, creating much cause for concern.
Going forward, the INEOS Grenadiers have attempted to hit the reset button ahead of 2025, changing up the performance staff structure of the team and even reportedly opting to finally set up a developmental side for the next generation. One of those new names in charge of things is Kurt Asle Arvesen. The Norwegian was present at the birth of Team Sky in the early 2010s and most recently worked as a sports director at the Uno-X Mobility lineup.
Speaking in conversation with TV2, Arvesen has now gone someway to explain how the INEOS Grenadiers plan to arrest their slide and get back to the very top of the World Tour. "As I have understood it, based on the conversations we have had, the focus will not be on the overall classification as much as before, but instead on going after stage wins and one-day races," the Norwegian comments, hinting at a complete change in the typical plan of action from the British-based team.
Since the formation of Team Sky and the name change to the INEOS Grenadiers, the general classification has been the clear priority. Grand Tour wins at the Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d'Italia through notable names such as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal and Tao Geoghegan Hart, have been the highlights but lesser stage race successes and Grand Tour podiums have been aplenty.
A switch to one day and stage successes is likely to be a welcome one due to the lack of a true Grand Tour contender in the squad currently, despite the high potential of the likes of Carlos Rodriguez and Thymen Arensman among others and the two Giro podiums in two years by Geraint Thomas. Whether the change can bring INEOS back to the top though? Only time will tell.
Well they have to do something different as TP and JV will continue to dominate stage racing for the next few years. It is not the strongest squad in the World Tour by some distance but INEOS never got the best out of their riders in 2024. Changing the performance set up with quality people will inprove them in 2025.
They'll never be the same as they where, maybe this new ideaology will be a success ?? 🙄
It's time for them to put their money where their mouths are.
....and do what, finance has never been a problem for the team. They simply cannot attract the top riders anymore.
Ineos problem is not knowing how to use the talent that they had. No excuses not to give Eddie Dunbar a go at a GT. Or Ben Tulett who can climb and time trialling well especially on the more climbing parkours not giving more opportunities. The only thing we know about Ineos of the past 2 seasons is that Thomas showed he is a really good GC rider but he's been 36 37 & 38 and needs quite a bit of support around him. Remember he was against Pidcock trying to make the break for his Alpe d'Huez win in 2022 the night before the stage. And Ineos best wins have come off road with the MTB and Track.
The expression 'putting their money where their mouth is' isn't always related to financial obligations. It also means obtaining some real results instead of just talking about it in silly catch phrases.
So, following wholesale changes to the senior management team, they've got together to work on their grand strategy for a return to dominance. The grey smoke has turned to white. They're ready to divulge it to an expectant public. And the master plan is... to give up. The team was created with the goal of winning grand tours, in particular the TdF. This pivot just smacks of defeatism. Granted, they don't have any true GT contenders on their books right now, but shouldn't they be working out how to address that? How the mighty have fallen.
They went all in trying to get Remco and he ended up staying where he was. Remco is a generational talent problem is he's in an era with a once in a lifetime talent in Pogi. And even if they did get Remco for the 2024 season the support riders still wouldn't of been good enough. This new strategy they've announced they should of gone to it 2 years ago. When they were doing very well in the classics and 1 day races. No problem with publicly saying they are going a couple steps back to move forward again. The most important thing is that they have attacking tactics and go for it more. That's why they have stagnated using 2010's tactics in 2020's GC when cycling has clearly evolved and moved on. They should of built upon the Giro 2020 adapted strategy they used when Thomas abandoned early and went stage hunting thinking GC was dead only to end up winning it.
Just in
NEW: WorldTour Manager Cyclinguptodate.com (FREE)
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Popular news
Latest comments
- Did old man Bruyneel make this point before Jonas crashed out?Renz16-03-2025
- Good win for Ayuso. He has appeared a bit inconsistent on mountain stages in the past; absolutely brilliant on some but then cracking on others.Cooldude16-03-2025
- A little caution is understandable. Just ask Roglic.Cooldude16-03-2025
- Jorgenson needs races to improve, he won Paris Nice last year, he should have been given open rein this year. He rode his guts out for Jonas last year, Jonas just needs to build form for the Tour. Give Matteo a race without a co captain.awp16-03-2025
- Exactly. Two leaders of this caliber at the same race makes no sense.Pedalmasher16-03-2025
- Jonas attacking Matteo< who was the GC leader, on the first summit finish was ridiculous! Karma came back and bit JV in the a$$ !frieders316-03-2025
- Pidcocks Ineos Grenadier? Nice proofing lolmij16-03-2025
- Agreed. Why have these two together? Give Jorgenson his own race. They have no one in Italy for GC that’s legit and provenmij16-03-2025
- Agreed. Why have these two together? Give Jorgenson his own race. They have no one in Italy for GC that’s legit and provenmij16-03-2025
- Yes, he’s impressive at the moment but lets see how long he keeps it up first so we know this isn’t his peak whilst those he’s expected to go up against are still building up to theirs.Mistermaumau15-03-2025