Ineos Grenadiers have tried to attract a line below the mysterious absence of senior directeur sportif Steve Cummings on the Tour de France whereas refusing to elucidate his absence and why he isn’t within the crew automobile managing race technique.
Cummings was promoted to the function of ‘Director of Racing’ when Rod Ellingworth left the crew through the winter and labored on quite a lot of races as directeur sportif this season, together with the Critérium du Dauphiné.
He has little doubt performed a key function in deciding the Ineos line-up and race technique for the Tour de France however is someway working remotely in an undefined function, with Zak Dempster nominated as ‘Lead DS’ for the Tour de France simply two weeks in the past.
Cummings appeared to endure a tough relationship with Tom Pidcock through the 2023 Tour de France as he pushed for a protected management function, in accordance with the lately launched Netflix Tour de France Unchained collection. However after arriving in Italy for the Tour Grand Depart, Pidock dismissed the collection as ‘drama’ and stated he was “portrayed because the unhealthy man.”
Pidcock advised Biking Weekly that the crew can be “higher” with out Cummings, at this 12 months’s Tour.
“I don’t suppose it’ll have an effect,” Pidcock stated. “Issues change, it’s probably not for me to remark.”
Pidcock has a contract with Ineos Grenadiers till 2027 and a management function. Biking Weekly urged that Pidcock has a say in key decision-making on the crew. Nevertheless, one other supply advised Cyclingnews that Pidock was not concerned within the choice to depart Cummings at residence and that Pidcock was unable to even persuade Ineos Grenadiers to convey his most popular soigneur to the Tour de France.
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The crew advised Cyclingnews that “Steve shouldn’t be on race however supporting remotely.”
Staff CEO John Allert agreed to speak to Cyclingnews and the Biking Podcast earlier than the beginning of stage one however provided no additional particulars on why Cummings was left at residence and his undefined ‘distant’ function.
“I am truly drawing a line below that fully, to be trustworthy,” Allert stated.
“We’re right here originally of three weeks of magical racing, with in all probability probably the most thrilling Tour lineup we have had for years. We have got a unbelievable crew right here. There’s nice unity within the crew. So I do not actually have something so as to add.”
Allert caught to his line as Cyclingnews urged that Cummings’ absence might appear unusual from outdoors the crew.
“My focus is not how issues look from the skin, it is how issues look from the within. And I am very comfy with the crew we have got right here, the best way that we’re arrange, the best way that we’re approaching the Tour,” Allert stated.
He repeated his want to attract a line below the story.
“Like I stated, I am drawing a line below it. I haven’t got something so as to add to what’s already been stated and what’s already been written.
“Our focus as a crew is what is going on on on the Tour and it is a blissful crew, it is a harmonious crew, it is a proficient crew. We’re simply wanting ahead to getting on with the following three weeks.
“I will not go into particulars about any particular person’s particular roles on the subject of the race. I’ve stated earlier than, Steve’s engaged on the Tour, he is simply not on the Tour.
“Zach’s function is head DS, so his function is pretty self-evident. Zach and Steve work actually intently collectively, philosophically they’re very aligned. They’ve fairly completely different kinds after they’re on race however each are very efficient. I believe each are on the prime of their recreation. We have got each confidence in what Zach’s going to do right here with a really proficient different group of coaches and directeur sportif.”
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