One swallow does not make a spring. The Ineos Grenadiers may have won the 13th stage of the Tour today, but they still have little to eat in the absolute top of the classification. The Ineos of yesteryear seems seriously lost. “They are far from the contenders to win,” sees G cyclist Louis Clincke in Vive le Vélo.
For years they dominated the Tour under the name “Team Sky”, today they are only a shadow of what they once were.
The Ineos Grenadiers are increasingly lagging behind in modern cycling. However, there is still enough money. Thanks to Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe, the British brigade is the richest squad in the platoon.
In width, the selection of the Grenadiers therefore looks phenomenal, but you will not find great ones like a Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Van Aert or Van der Poel.
So what exactly goes wrong?
Today was nice, but for the rest they don’t come in handy.
Louis Clincke
“I think it’s a combination of things,” says Jolien D’Hoore. “For example, they have had bad luck with Bernal’s long rehabilitation.”
Today Ineos took his first victory in this Tour with Kwiatkowski. “But is that enough for such a large team? Not for me,” says Clincke.
“It has always been such a strong team. Today was nice, but otherwise they are no longer involved.”
Currently, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, 2 Ineos riders are in the top 10 of the general classification.
“It is Pidcock who goes surprisingly well uphill,” Clincke continues. “But they are far from the contenders to win.”
At Ineos they have their sights set on Evenepoel and Ayuso.
Young violence
Pidcock is indeed riding a strong Tour this year, but many people doubt whether he can ever really put the heat on Pogacar and Vingegaard.
Raising big money for a new world topper?
“The circle of potential Grand Tour winners is limited”, Karl Vannieuwkerke argues. “I think there are 2, but they are both not present in this Tour.
“I’m thinking of Evenepoel and Ayuso. As a big team you have to go after one of those talents, don’t you? You have no choice. Do we understand that they are pulling out all the stops to get Evenepoel loose at Soudal-Quick Step?”
Ineos may well be building the future.
Jolien D’Hoore
“I think everyone wants it”, Marc Herremans tries first. “But not everyone can afford it,” is Vannieuwkerke’s answer.
And let Ineos be the richest team in the peloton. Yet the guests do not see a switch from Evenepoel to the million-dollar team happening.
“I think driving in a Belgian team is the best thing there is for Remco”, D’Hoore claims. “And they still have Bernal and Pidcock, too.”
“You never know with Pidcock. It remains a very great talent. And they may be building the future,” she concludes.
But at the moment it remains clear that money is not always the key to success.
2023-07-14 20:46:56
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