Carlos Rodríguez is about to guide Ineos Grenadiers on the Tour de France, the place he will probably be supported by Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal, and Tom Pidcock.
The Spaniard, the winner of the Tour de Romandie and a stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné just lately, will probably be trying to higher his fifth-place end result eventually yr’s Tour de France. He additionally gained a stage in 2023, into Morzine.
Two former Tour champions, in Thomas and Bernal, will help Rodríguez’s bid for the rostrum, or probably greater, together with Pidcock. Thomas is coming off the again of racing the Giro d’Italia, the place he completed third general; it is going to be his thirteenth Tour.
The crew has plenty of expertise, with these 4 joined by Michał Kwiatkowski – additionally a stage winner in 2023 – Ben Turner, Jonathan Castroviejo and Laurens De Plus.
Ineos Grenadiers’ efficiency director, Scott Drawer, stated that the intention was to “race aggressively, disrupt and take the race to our competitors”.
“The competitors is harder than ever, however nothing is a given in Grand Tour biking,” he stated. “We have now been racing this season because the hunters not the hunted and that brings its personal benefits. The Giro final month was an ideal instance of how we like to race as a crew – placing the strain on, combating for each alternative, and taking possibilities, and it’s how we plan to race in France over the approaching weeks.
“After a robust and constant season, Carlos will probably be main the Ineos Grenadiers’ cost throughout France. Carlos has continued to impress us along with his racing in addition to his professionalism and angle on and off the bike. Proper beside him would be the power and Tour expertise of Egan, with Tom and Geraint offering help but additionally trying to race aggressively, disrupt and take the race to our competitors.
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“Laurens’ climbing capacity will even be invaluable within the excessive mountains whereas Castro will convey his trademark selfless and regular presence to the crew and can assist to drive the tempo. And with all his expertise and Tour de France wins in his personal proper, Kwiato will present perception, safety and search for alternatives on the flats and cross winds alongside Ben, a preferred powerhouse of a rider.
“This distinctive group has actual depth of expertise and a broad vary of expertise, and their collective perception into what it takes to reach the Tour de France will show invaluable over 21 gruelling levels with over 52,000 metres of elevation acquire.”
Rodríguez stated that he would draw confidence from having a robust squad round him.
“My preparation has gone properly to date, and I really feel assured that I will probably be beginning in Florence in one of the best form attainable,” the 23-year-old stated. “I had an excellent coaching block on the finish of final yr and a terrific altitude camp in January.
“I had a slower begin to the yr than I needed however have turned that round and the legs are actually feeling good, and my physique is responding properly. I feel that reveals that the plan has labored, and we have now accomplished issues in the proper approach and in the proper order.”
