The vibes have notably improved at the Ineos Grenadiers since we wrote about the team's ignominious fall from its Team Sky highs last year. Egan Bernal is resurgent at the Giro d'Italia, Josh Tarling keeps winning time trials, and they're even making fun vlogs. But structural and management issues remain. Those problems, combined with an ongoing and pressing search for additional funding, have disrupted recruitment and are impacting the team's ability to plan for the future, according to sources within the organisation.
Escape Collective's conversations with multiple sources inside the team's management and athlete structures have clarified a theme: Ineos's 2026 plans are in limbo, right when other teams are pouncing on talent and making plans. Recruitment is paused and no new rider contracts have been signed, as the team still lacks a confirmed title sponsor. The Ineos Grenadiers are missing out on riders as an ongoing sponsor search and internal bureaucracy slow or stop signings.
Funding is needed to complement the cash injected by billionaire Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as his attention (and money) are focused on larger projects like the Manchester United football team.
Billionaire backing not quite enough
In March, Escape broke the news that French petroleum company TotalEnergies had held discussions about redirecting its cycling investment away from the second-tier French team it has sponsored since 2019 and towards the British squad.
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