Carlos Rodríguez is ready to steer Ineos Grenadiers on the Tour de France, the place he shall 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 lately, shall be seeking to higher his fifth-place consequence ultimately 12 months’s Tour de France. He additionally received a stage in 2023, into Morzine.
Two former Tour champions, in Thomas and Bernal, will assist Rodríguez’s bid for the rostrum, or doubtlessly larger, together with Pidcock. Thomas is coming off the again of racing the Giro d’Italia, the place he completed third total; it will likely 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, mentioned that the intention was to “race aggressively, disrupt and take the race to our competitors”.
“The competitors is more durable than ever, however nothing is a given in Grand Tour biking,” he mentioned. “Now we have 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 powerful and constant season, Carlos shall 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 assist but additionally seeking to race aggressively, disrupt and take the race to our competitors.
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“Laurens’ climbing skill may 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 abilities, and their collective perception into what it takes to achieve the Tour de France will show invaluable over 21 gruelling phases with over 52,000 metres of elevation achieve.”
Rodríguez mentioned that he would draw confidence from having a powerful squad round him.
“My preparation has gone nicely to date, and I really feel assured that I shall be beginning in Florence in the most effective form potential,” the 23-year-old mentioned. “I had a very good coaching block on the finish of final 12 months and an amazing altitude camp in January.
“I had a slower begin to the 12 months than I wished however have turned that round and the legs are actually feeling good, and my physique is responding nicely. I believe that exhibits that the plan has labored, and we’ve got accomplished issues in the precise approach and in the precise order.”
