INEOS Grenadiers opts for maximal horse power in Tour de France mountains, Rodríguez appointed team leader

Carlos Rodríguez, the winner of the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and fifth place Tour de France finisher last year, is included, along with Tom Pidcock and Laurens De Plus, who can also hold their own in the mountains. Michal Kwiatkowski and Jonathan Castroviejo can contribute on all terrains, while Ben Turner is more suited to the flat sections.

Scott Drawer, the team's performance manager, outlines the goals. "Carlos will be leading the INEOS Grenadiers’ charge. Carlos has continued to impress us with his racing as well as his professionalism and attitude on and off the bike. Right beside him will be the strength and Tour experience of Egan, with Tom and Geraint providing support but also looking to race aggressively, disrupt and take the race to our competition."

“Laurens’ climbing ability will also be invaluable in the high mountains," Drawer continues. "Castro will bring his trademark selfless and steady presence to the team. And with all his experience and Tour de France wins, Kwiato will provide insight, protection and look for opportunities on the flats and cross winds alongside Ben, a popular powerhouse of a rider. We have a strong group of riders who can compete on all days."

Rodríguez is thus the designated team leader. "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 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. 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. Having such a strong group of riders around me is what is going to help us get the best result possible as a team."

Then there’s Pidcock, who recently found success in mountain biking. "My preparation for the Tour this year has gone really well and I feel like I’m in a really good place. 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. The opening few stages this year present a real opportunity but of course there are many riders with eyes on the yellow jersey. I can’t wait for my third Tour."

Bernal and Thomas, both former winners, are also participating. "My ambition is to be really competitive and to be someone who can make a real difference in the race," says the Colombian. "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."

The Welshman, recently third in the Giro, agrees. "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. Obviously, it's a slight unknown how the body will respond, but I am feeling pretty fresh mentally and just looking forward to the Tour. 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.”

Geraint Thomas
Egan Bernal
Carlos Rodriguez
Jonathan Castroviejo
Ben Turner
Tom Pidcock
Laurens de Plus
Michal Kwiatkowski