Ineos Grenadiers is backing a trio of former star riders in its bid to turn the team around and recapture its glory days. While it used to dominate Grand Tours, particularly the Tour de France, the British World Tour team has been a supporting actor in recent years.
It also lost its star rider, Tom Pidcock, to ProContinental team Q36.5 Pro Cycling after the British rider had clearly been unsettled at Ineos Grenadiers for a couple of years, and made that clear in remarks in 2024.
However, the team's 2018 Tour de France winner, Geraint Thomas, was this week unveiled as its new director of racing; the Welshman moving to that senior management role immediately after retiring from racing.
And now Elia Viviani and Daryl Impey, two streetwise and very successful former pro riders, have now been added to the British team's sports director line-up.
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The team is hoping that between that star duo, and British cycling legend Thomas, its fortunes can begin to turn, all under the watchful eye of team boss Dave Brailsford, now back in the fold full-time.
Italian Viviani, a world and Olympic champion on the track, has just retired from racing and rode with Ineos Grenadiers three years and Team Sky, also for three years, earlier in his career. Impey, from South Africa, is a former Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey.
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Impey retired in 2023 and since then has worked as a sports director for Israel Premier Tech, but is now stepping up a level with Ineos Grenadiers. Both he and Viviani bring incredible experience and know-how to the team. They are also riders who were perhaps not among the very best cyclists in the world, but who achieved great things are maximising their talents.
Brailsford said he was delighted Thomas was moving to a management role in the team.
“Geraint typifies what it means to be a Grenadier. He has lived and breathed elite performance throughout his career. He always set himself very ambitious goals and invariably went on to achieve them," he said.
“He knows what the process takes, how to deal with the highs and lows of elite sport and his willingness to now share this and mentor others to do the same is a great asset for the team. The fact that he has stayed so humble and always maintained a great sense of humour are also great attributes to bring to his new role.”
Thomas, who will be senior to Impey and Viviani, said the fact both former riders had now joined the team was a big step forward.
“Elia and Daryl are excellent additions to our team. Their experience, professionalism and leadership qualities will add real value to the Ineos Grenadiers," said Thomas, commenting on his first full day in the job after his official unveiling.
“They will also bring fresh ideas and perspectives into an established environment which is really important for our growth as a team, as we continue to challenge ourselves in every area.”
