Luke Rowe: Ineos Grenadiers need a reality check and reset 🏴 🇬🇧
Departing rider believes it could take six years for the team to return to the top of the sport
Six years is a long time in pro cycling but that’s the length of time it could take for Ineos Grenadiers to reach the top of the sport. That’s according to their former road captain Luke Rowe, who joins Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in 2025 as a sports director.
Rowe, 34, spent his entire racing career on Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers, turning pro in 2012 and becoming a vital part of the team’s Tour de France and Classics success. He signed a contract for 2024 and 2025 but after a serious concussion in the spring, he decided to call time on his career.
Speaking to a packed audience at Rouleur Live at the weekend, the Welshman gave his insight into Ineos’ current state of affairs. The British team have not won the Tour de France since Egan Bernal claimed the yellow jersey in 2019, and despite a few valiant Grand Tour efforts from veteran rider Geraint Thomas, the team have been left behind by their main rivals. This year, they endured their worst season on record, with only 14 victories in the pro peloton. It’s a far cry from the team that won seven out of eight editions of the Tour between 2012 and 2019.