"Again news from INEOS Grenadiers: mentor to Bernal and other Spanish-speaking riders leaves"

If one team goes through a metamorphosis this winter, it is INEOS Grenadiers. The once highly successful British formation had a mediocre to poor 2024. It already implemented a significant overhaul of its staff this winter. Still, there is new news: the usually well-informed cycling journalist Daniel Benson reports that Xabier Artetxe will leave the team.

Artetxe has coached Carlos Rodríguez and Egan Bernal, two of the intended leaders for the grand tours, at INEOS Grenadiers in recent years. For years, the Basque has been a key figure in supporting the Spanish-speaking riders on the team. For example, he was present during Bernal's heavy crash in 2022, after which he assisted the Colombian in returning to his current level.

And so the changes at the British team are likely to continue. Scott Drawer, in charge of the team's performance department since this year, announced a change a good week and a half ago. "The new structure will focus on three different performance streams: grand tours/stage races, classics/one-day races, and future talent," he reported.

For that purpose, new personnel were also recruited. Norwegian Kurt Asle Arvesen, ex-rider for Sky at the time, will be in charge of the sports section within INEOS Grenadiers, which, with Italian Leonardo Basso, added another ex-rider to its team leaders. Mehdi Kordi (former track coach of the Netherlands), coach Tom Helleman, who was acquired from dsm-firmenich PostNL, and Italian aerodynamics specialist Luca Oggiano were also hired.

Drawer indicated at the time that it would not end there. "We have a highly motivated, hungry, and ambitious team of coaches, sports directors, and performance specialists who want to create an environment where our riders can reach their potential," he said. "That collective energy and desire will prepare us for the challenges and opportunities in 2025."

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INEOS takes a slightly different perspective in 2025

In an interview with TV2,  Arvesen gave a sneak peek at the "new" ambitions of INEOS Grenadiers. "As I understand from our conversations, the focus will not be on classifications to the same extent as before. We will focus more on stage wins and one-day races," said the Norwegian, who also has a crucial case ahead of him and his colleagues with the Tom Pidcock dossier.

"INEOS has rarely had such a weak year as in 2024," the new boss looked at it realistically. "We have become an underdog compared to the big teams. However, that provides the opportunity to attack from below. I'm looking forward to becoming better acquainted with the team again," said Arvesen, who will no longer get to experience Artetxe.

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