Ineos Grenadiers: We’re the hunter not the hunted

Ineos Grenadiers CEO John Allert has outlined the team’s ambitions for 2024 and beyond, stating that the British team would remain a GC focus squad and that they would devote attention to the Grand Tours for the foreseeable future.

Allert, who effectively took charge of the team after Dave Brailsford stepped into a more central role as the head of Ineos Sport, admitted that the cycling squad had major ground to make up to compete for the top step of the Tour de France podium, but that the squad’s overall budget remained the same as in previous years.

The team’s new CEO also clarified that the team’s recruitment when it came to transfers would remain the same with both Brailsford and owner Jim Ratcliffe remaining part of the process that would help identify and effectively sign new riders.

“For me, this is a very exciting period because it’s the beginning of the season and as a team, it’s fair to say that we’re the hunter, not the hunted and that puts a slightly different complexion of things. We’ve clearly transitioned from one leadership to new leadership, and we’ve got an exciting rider group and we’ve made a good start to the season. I feel a lot of optimism within the team, and in the sport,” Allert told GCN and other members of the media.

Read more: ‘He’s still involved’ - Ineos Grenadiers downplay impact of Dave Brailsford departure

Ambition to 'get as close to the Tour podium as possible'

Ineos have not won the Tour de France since their first year in the sport in 2019 when they took over the title sponsorship from Sky. They have podiumed since then, and won the Giro d’Italia twice, in 2020 and 2021, but their main objective remains the yellow jersey.

However, they appear some way off from that ambition with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vinegaarard (Visma-Lease a Bike) winning the last four editions of the Tour between them.

Although Ineos Grenadiers have attempted to sign a raft of major hitters in the last twelve months, including Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe), they head into the 2024 season with effectively the same Grand Tour leadership as before. Arguably the team is even weaker in terms of stage racing depth after a raft of departures including Pavel Sivakov, Dani Martínez and Tao Geoghegan Hart, but Allert is confident that a new generation can be developed over the coming seasons.

Read more:

• Pidcock, Rodríguez and Bernal for the Tour de France as Geraint Thomas' Giro d’Italia plans remain unconfirmed
• Ineos Grenadiers Team Talk: High expectations, but do they meet them?

Geraint Thomas, Carlos Rodríguez, Egan Bernal and Tom Pidcock will lead the line in 2024, and while the complete roster line-ups for the Grand Tours are still unclear, Allert is convinced that the current squad can be competitive, while still acknowledging that returning to the top step of the podium at the Tour de France remains a work in progress at this point.

“Everyone can see that there are some pretty outstanding GC riders. I believe that we have a number of GC riders, in terms of experienced ones with two Tour winners, but also phenomenal next-gen riders. Our objectives are to get as close to the podium as possible in the Tour, and in any Grand Tour. Whether or not that’s this year or next year remains to be seen. The competition is stiff and tough, but we embrace that because it hopefully makes us better,” Allert added.

Jim Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford remain involved with transfers

Part of the criticism levelled at Ineos Grenadiers over the last two years has been based on their transfer activity. Labelled as slow to make decisions, and cumbersome on the market, the squad reached an almost commercial point of professionalism last year when two high-profile riders reportedly saw their contract offers rescinded during the summer.

According to reports, Brailsford vetoed deals that were in place for Tobias Foss and Carlos Verona and while Foss eventually did sign, the lack of authority and clarity highlighted the team’s struggles.

Read more: Carlos Verona heads to Lidl-Trek after Ineos Grenadiers ice deal

GCN asked Allert what he identified as the most pressing area of reform and improvement necessary after he took over. After a long pause, the Australian replied:

“The greatest priority for us was finding our strategic clarity again and making sure that people were aligned around a series of objectives. To some extent, that’s why I was brought in and that’s what I’ve done. We’ll see the fruits of those changes over the coming seasons but I’m very confident with the people that we have, with a gold standard in support staff, a phenomenal rider list, and arguably the hardest-working riders in the peloton,” he said.

A question mark remains, however, when it comes to the process around rider recruitment. According to Allert, no one person has the official capacity to sign off on a rider joining the team, and he hinted that both Brailsford and Ineos owner Ratcliffe remained on a select committee that would oversee potential athletes.

“We do that as a collective. So it would be wrong to say that one person has the final say. We do that as a team. We look at our objectives, and what aligns with them and then we make decisions as a group,” Allert said.

And Brailsford’s nebulous role around the team continues, even if it is slightly more distant. His title may have changed, and his focus turned towards Manchester United but the former boss remains on the periphery of the cycling operation. Allert suggested that his former boss had no direct responsibility within the team, but as the Director of Sport, Brailsford will be able to dip in and out of the situation whenever he sees fit.

“Dave is the godfather of the team and he’s the founder of the team. It’s a privilege that he’s still accessible to the team. He clearly has responsibilities across several sports, and not just cycling,” he said.

“Although Dave has greater bandwidth than anyone I’ve ever worked with, his first and primary focus is on a variety of sports teams. Clearly, he has a passion and proven track record for cycling, so don’t ever be surprised to see him come on race but he won’t be at races to mark our homework. He’ll be coming on race to help the team, as he does all the teams."