New boss drops bombshell: INEOS Grenadiers no longer wants to be a general classification team

It seems that INEOS Grenadiers, once known for its Team Sky spirit, is no more. The British multi-million squad is taking a drastic new direction, stepping back from focusing on the general classification in stage races. This surprising change was revealed by new team boss Kurt Asle Arvesen in an interview with Norway's TV2.

Arvesen was recently announced as one of five new members of INEOS Grenadiers' technical staff. The 49-year-old Norwegian was involved in Team Sky’s early years, helping build up the team before founding the pro-continental Uno-X Pro Cycling. Now, he’s making a return just as INEOS faces an identity crisis.

For years, the team has been outpaced in grand tours—territory where they once dominated. Arvesen hopes to lead a turnaround, which is part of why he turned down offers from teams like Tudor Pro Cycling and Bahrain Victorious. "I already know many people in the organization from the past; it only took a week for us to reach an agreement."

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INEOS Grenadiers

INEOS Grenadiers wants to win

Arvesen will serve as the overall leader of the team’s sports directors, a key technical role. “INEOS has rarely had such a weak year as in 2024. We've become an underdog compared to the major teams. However, this provides an opportunity to strike from below. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the team."

Then comes a striking statement, one that could reshape INEOS’s entire image. “From the conversations we’ve had, it’s clear that the focus will no longer be on the general classifications as it was before. We’ll be focusing more on stage wins and one-day races,” says Arvesen. This shift is a logical response to the dominance of UAE Team Emirates and Visma | Lease a Bike in grand tours, along with the departure of INEOS’s top GC riders in recent years.