Luke Rowe leaves sinking INEOS Grenadiers, signs as team director at Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale

After this season, Luke Rowe will officially retire from professional cycling. The 34-year-old Brit will become a team director next year, but not with INEOS Grenadiers, the British team he has ridden for his entire career. Instead, he’ll bring his tactical expertise to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

Rumors had already been circulating, but the French team has now officially announced the Welshman’s arrival on social media. Starting November 1st, Rowe will join the team, which includes riders like Felix Gall and Benoît Cosnefroy. “I took time to reflect and consider my next chapter. The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale project appealed to me, particularly because of the major step forward the team has taken this year in terms of performance, but most importantly, its long-term vision and future projects. I’m excited to share my experience from all my years at the highest level and to support the riders, especially in the Classics.”

Rowe's departure is a high-profile one, as he has spent his entire career with INEOS Grenadiers. However, he hasn’t hidden his dissatisfaction with the team’s recent direction. The Classics specialist has also noticed the team’s underwhelming performances this year. “You can’t sugarcoat it. This is a team with a huge budget. Riders are paid to win major races, and that’s just not happening. We’re not delivering. It’s not that one person is failing, but things have been going wrong for quite some time.”

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Rowe breaks with INEOS: "This is not solved in one or two years"

For years, INEOS Grenadiers (and its predecessor Team Sky) was the team to beat, but that’s no longer the case. “Staying at the top is difficult; we were constantly being chased. Now we’re the ones trailing. Several teams have genuinely surpassed us. I know the people at the top of the team, and they’ll reflect and won’t give up. But this won’t be solved in one or two years. I’d give them a few years, and then INEOS will be back at the top.”