Brian Smith, the Eurosport commentator who was previously a pro rider and British champion, has leveled strong criticism at Ineos Grenadiers on the day one of its sports directors, Steve Cummings, confirmed he was leaving the World Tour team.
Though Cummings did not outline why he was leaving, his relationship with star rider Tom Pidcock was said to be strained. Furthermore, Cummings was not at the Tour de France as director, nor was he present at any races after the French Grand Tour this season.
Smith set out his criticism of the team, saying it appeared to him the issues in the squad would continue, and claiming Pidcock was de-selected for Il Lombardia because the team feared he may win and they would have to pay out a large bonus.
Advertisement
"No real surprise to see Steve Cummings leave Team Ineos. Must be hard to do your job when gagged for most of the year. One of their biggest assets, (will) be a major boost for any other team," Smith said in a series of posts.
"Team Circus continues, after allowing your marquee rider to leave the team while willing to pay 20 per cent of his salary then doing a U-turn to keep him, Not sure this is over," he said of Pidcock almost joining Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in recent weeks.
Related News
"These decisions were helped my Team Circus pulling Pidcock from Lombardia. Why you may ask? Had the form, thought he could win but did not want to risk paying the high bonus."
Smith also suggested finances were the reason Pablo Castrillo's mooted move from Equipo Kern Pharma to Ineos Grenadiers did not materialise. Castrillo, whose value rocketed after two Vuelta stage wins, has signed for Movistar Team instead.
Returning to the subject of Cummings, Smith believed the Tour de France stage winner would have been a major asset to the team going forward in a era when the sport was more about science and less about people.
"There is no fun in cycling teams anymore. Science has killed this. Robotic riders and robotic sports directors," he said. "Riders now know what they can achieve, what they are up against and turn up at races in a poor mental health state.
"That’s what numbers do to riders. The mental state of a rider is now being left at the side of the road because of the numbers game. Altitude, hemoglobin muscle testing, scientists seem to be the way forward.
"If a rider is not happy then you are flogging a dead horse. This is where a team needs people like Steve Cummings and not more personnel with letters after their name."
