News: Pidcock & Porte Sign for Ineos

Ineos confirm the signing of Pidcock and Porte to join Adam Yates for the 2021 season. Pidcock: “I just want to keep racing, learning and growing as a bike rider”

News: Pidcock & Porte Sign for Ineos

The INEOS Grenadiers have today confirmed the signings of Tom Pidcock, Richie Porte, Laurens de Plus and Dani Martinez. They join Adam Yates as new signings for the team for the next season.

INEOS Grenadiers Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “This season we have seen a change in both individual performance levels and the collective strength of teams. Riders are better prepared and teams more organised. The intensity of competition is increasing and it’s getting more difficult to win. We are relishing this challenge and focused on coming back stronger. The riders themselves are at the heart of any team and each one of our new signings forms a key part of the evolution of the Team.

“It’s clear Tom is one of the most exciting young riders in world cycling and part of a new era of incredible all-round talents. We’re witnessing a new trend in cycling, with an emergence of young riders who come from a broader, multi-disciplined background. Tom’s career so far really embodies that. He’s competed at the highest level across several disciplines, an incredible bike handler, a natural born bike racer, and a winner. Now he’s going to be an INEOS Grenadier and it’s invigorating for the whole team to be developing a talent like Tom.

“We are also particularly happy to add a rider of Lauren’s capability to our team. We admire his breadth of ability and we want to support him to develop and reach his full potential both individually and as part of our Team. Our mission is to bring together a squad capable of performing in the world’s most important races and believe Laurens will play a key role in that. He is single-minded, determined and willing to work hard to get to where he wants to go – everything we look for in an INEOS Grenadier.

“Richie’s richly-deserved podium at the Tour de France once again demonstrated that he’s one of the best riders in the peloton. He’s a world class climber, time triallist, and if you are building a team to be competitive against the world’s best then you’d want Richie Porte by your side. We already know how each other works, he knows how we race, and with the wealth of experience that Richie now has he has so much to offer the team. We really are extremely pleased to welcome him back.”

“We’ve been monitoring Dani for many seasons as he has impressed us from an early age and after his recent performances, now everyone can see why we’re so excited. He rode a fantastic race at the Dauphine and he showed what he’s made of again with his gruelling stage win at the Tour. He is a tenacious, world-class climber who can also time trial and we want Dani to continue his success and be a key part of our future team.”

Tom Pidcock, the 21 year old from Yorkshire who is fresh off his win at the 2020 Baby Giro and set to lead Team GB in the elite men’s road race this weekend in Italy said: “I am incredibly excited and proud to be signing for the INEOS Grenadiers. Like so many British cyclists of my generation, I have always aspired to race on the road with this team – to me, the best in the world. I just want to keep racing, learning and growing as a bike rider, and having the opportunity to do that in this team is amazing. I feel like I’m ready for the WorldTour but also excited to keep exploring multiple disciplines with the support of this team behind me.”

Pidcock’s contract with the INEOS Grenadiers will begin on 1 March 2021.

Richie Porte, who finished third at this year’s Tour de France and will return to the team having spent four successful seasons as a Team Sky rider from 2012 to 2015, said: “I had four fantastic years and some of the happiest memories riding here. I weighed up the options this year and I’m very motivated to be able to finish my career at such a fantastic team. I’ve been privileged with the teams I’ve ridden with but the camaraderie in this team is just incredible. It’s a great atmosphere and it will be nice to come back and hit the ground running. There are still so many good people and friends in the team that I’ve worked with before.”

“I’m motivated to be a part of more victories and to come back and race with some of the best guys in the world. I know what my role is – I know I can still win races on my day, but I see myself slotting in as a climbing domestique and it’s something I really look forward to.”

Laurens de Plus, the young Belgian climber who displayed talent and versatility last season with an overall victory at the BinckBank Tour and a stand-out performance in his Tour de France debut, said: “I am really happy to have this chance. In the peloton, everybody talks about this Team and the way they have taken cycling to a higher level. I want to be a part of that. It was not an easy decision, of course, but riding for this Team has been my dream for a long time.

“Last year’s Tour de France felt like a breakthrough for me and I just want to keep going on that trajectory. I am looking forward to learning from the best Grand Tour riders and developing over the next few years. There is a super strong group of young riders at the INEOS Grenadiers and I want to be part of that as this group develops and gets even better.”

Dani Martinez, fresh off an impressive Tour de France stage win and overall victory at the prestigious Criterium du Dauphine, said: “I have been making progress over the last few seasons and have been really lucky with the support I have had, but the opportunity to ride for the INEOS Grenadiers was too good an opportunity to not take. I believe this is the right time to try and take my career to the next level and I am hugely motivated to learn from the best in the world.

“I obviously know Egan and a few of the other guys in the team too so it will be nice to continue to ride with some compatriots.”