THE INEOS Grenadiers may have missed out on victory in this year’s Tour de France. But the riders, who had become accustomed to winning, continued to show incredible grit and determination after team leader and defending champion Egan Bernal was forced to abandon the race after 16 stages.
“They immediately went on the offensive,” said Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford. That persistence ultimately paid off with an emotional victory on stage 18 as Michal Kwiatkowski and Richard Carapaz took a 1-2 finish.
But sadly, this year, it was not meant to be, with the glory going to Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) instead.
“The Grenadiers will be back to target that yellow jersey again in 2021,” he said.
Dave, whose team have won seven of the past eight Tours, went on to praise Egan Bernal who became the first Columbian to ever win the race last year.
“In victory and defeat he showed us what a true champion looks like,” he said. “He is determined to come back even stronger in 2021.”
Team INEOS had been renamed The INEOS Grenadiers at the start of the Tour following the unveiling of INEOS’ no- frills, unbreakable 4 x 4, The Grenadier.
The team’s four Grand Tour winning champions, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz, unveiled the new team kit from Castelli and newly-branded Pinarello DOGMA F12 at the Allianz Riviera, alongside two prototypes of the Grenadier vehicle which gives the team its new name.
The Grenadier is the rugged 4 x 4 utility vehicle engineered and manufactured by INEOS Automotive, designed on purpose to be a highly capable, go-anywhere, hard-working vehicle.
“The INEOS Grenadiers is a new name but one that sums up who we have always been,” said Sir Dave. “It is a new partnership but one that epitomises our existing team values – ambition, grit, determination, resourcefulness, tenacity and passion.”
He added: “This is a deepening of our relationship with INEOS and a brilliant example of how being a part of the INEOS group presents so many opportunities for us to be greater together.
“Just like the Grenadier, we are a team built on purpose. We know what we need to do and have the right team to get the job done.
We are here with a clear ambition and are going all in to make it happen.”