TDF News: Ineos Lineup for Le Tour

Ineos will go into the 2024 Tour de France with three British riders, Ben Turner, Tom Pidcock and former Tour winner Geraint Thomas in his 13th Edition!

TDF News: Ineos Lineup for Le Tour

Carlos Rodríguez and Egan Bernal will spearhead a seasoned squad of riders at this year’s 111th Tour de France, featuring two previous Tour winners and five Tour stage winners. The team’s eight riders have ridden an impressive 39 editions of the Tour de France and collectively know what it takes to succeed in cycling’s most prestigious race.

Following Carlos Rodríguez’s strong performance at the 2023 edition of the Tour de France, he has continued his progression as a GC rider in 2024 with a win overall and Best Young Rider at the Tour de Romandie, a second at the Tour of the Basque Country and a stage win and overall fourth placing in the Critérium du Dauphiné. A Grenadier since 2020, Carlos confirmed his long-term commitment to the team last season by extending his contract until 2027, with the team praising his natural talent, racing spirit and professionalism.

Popular Colombian Tour winner Egan Bernal has continued his impressive rise back to the top tier of cycling after a potentially life-changing accident in 2022. His 2024 season has seen him consistently building form with a seventh place finish at Paris-Nice, third at Volta a Catalunya and fourth at the Tour de Suisse. Lining up alongside Carlos and Egan will be some of the leading names in the sport, providing the Grenadiers a variety of cards to play as the race unfolds.

INEOS Grenadiers line-up:

— Egan Bernal (27), Colombia – the 2019 Tour de France winner will be racing his fifth Tour de France this year after a run of strong performances including an impressive podium in Catalunya.

— Jonathan Castroviejo (37), Spain – the versatile and ever-reliable climber and six-time national time trial champion will be starting his 10th Tour de France after a consistently strong 2024 season.

— Laurens De Plus (28), Belgium – the strong climber and stage racer starts his second Tour de France after a successful lead-in that includes an impressive fifth place finish at the Critérium du Dauphiné.

— Michal Kwiatkowski (34), Poland – the former World Champion is one of the most experienced riders in the peloton. As a double Tour de France stage winner, Kwiato lines up for his 10th Tour de France in 2024.

— Tom Pidcock (24), Great Britain – the multi-discipline rider and 2022 Tour de France stage winner is tackling his third Tour de France this year after a season that has seen him win Amstel Gold, demonstrate strong form in stage races and achieve mountain bike success.

— Carlos Rodriguez (23), Spain – co-leader for his second Tour de France following a breakthrough stage win and fifth place overall in 2023, the young Spaniard has been riding into form throughout the 2024 season, winning the Tour de Romandie and the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné.

— Geraint Thomas (38), Great Britain – G, with 12 Tour de France starts for the team including his 2018 victory, second in 2019 and third in 2022, starts his 13th edition of the Tour off the back of a hard-earned podium place at the Giro d’Italia.

— Ben Turner (25), Great Britain – the popular and super-strong Brit lines up for his second Tour de France after an impressive season focussed on the Classics.

RIDER QUOTES:

Tom Pidcock said: “Preparation for the Tour this year has gone really well and I feel like I’m in a really good place ahead of it. We’ve selected a team that’s going to provide opportunities for us to continue to race in a way that’s very exciting for me personally, and the team.

“I’ve won a Tour stage before and that’s really something I would love to do again, it was one of the best days on the bike. The opening few stages this year presents a real opportunity but of course there are many riders with eyes on the yellow jersey.

“After a block at altitude and then getting back to racing at the Tour de Suisse, i was improving every day and I had my best day on the TT bike, which is very promising and certainly the right direction I want to be going in at the moment. I can’t wait for my third tour.”

Geraint Thomas (former Tour de France winner) said: “Can’t quite believe I am starting my 13th Tour de France – let’s hope it’s a lucky one!

“I didn’t know how I would feel after the Giro and getting back to training as I have never done the Giro-Tour double before, but it’s been a solid block and the legs are feeling pretty good. I thought it would be really hard to stay on it but I’ve actually enjoyed it and got some good work done.

“Obviously, it’s a slight unknown how the body will respond given I haven’t had a season like this before, but I am feeling pretty fresh mentally and just looking forward to the Tour getting started now.

“It’s going to be a super competitive and hard race, but we’ve got a super strong team with plenty of experience and Carlos is clearly on the up this season. Personally, I am looking forward to racing with a bit less pressure and more freedom to mix it up and try to get really stuck in.”

Carlos Rodríguez said: “My preparation has gone well so far, and I feel confident that I will be starting in Florence in the best shape possible. I had a good training block at the end of last year and a great altitude camp in January. I had a slower start to the year than I wanted but have turned that around and the legs are now feeling good, and my body is responding well. I think that shows that the plan has worked, and we have done things in the right way and in the right order.

“The team has helped me a lot this year, looking at every aspect of my performance and going over every detail to help me improve. Now I am feeling ready and am really looking forward to the Tour starting. I have great memories from last year’s Tour de France, sharing some special moments with the team and my family so I hope this year will be even better.”

Reflecting on the strength of the wider group of riders in the team, Carlos added: “In cycling, you get individual results but it’s a team sport. The help from these teammates and from the staff will be what makes all the difference, especially when the level of racing is going to be so high. Having such a strong group of riders around me is what is going to help us get the best result possible as a team.”

Egan Bernal said: “I am very happy to be selected again. It’s a big honour to be in the biggest race in the world and as with every year, we’ll fight for the best result possible.

“My ambition is to be really competitive and to be someone who can make a real difference in the race. As a team we want to win and we have a few riders who can do really well. It is going to be important to have different options especially in the second and third week. If we can reach that point with a number of riders high on GC it can become a bit of a strategic game, and having various cards to play is going to be important.”