Red-hot AJ August departs INEOS for new team after first overall victory: 'Best place to continue my development'

This week, the Tour of the Czech Republic and the Arctic Race of Norway took place. In the former, it was Andrew August who dominated and made his mark. The American, just 20 years old and already widely praised for his VO2 max, won two stages and claimed his first career overall victory. And that has him hungry for more wins in the future, but they will not come with his current team.

Netcompany INEOS worked hard for August on the final day, but in Stage 4 he was outpaced by Alessandro Fancellu. The youngster did, however, claim the overall victory. “It’s truly incredible. Of course, I’ve already had a great season with stage wins and victories in one-day races, but it’s a fantastic feeling to now clinch my first overall title.”

"I'd like to dedicate this victory to Fin Tarling; our thoughts are with his family and friends," said August, who had a great week. "Actually, I believed I could do it from the moment I won that second stage. I knew my legs were in great shape, so I was very confident. But I also knew it wouldn’t be easy to hold onto the yellow jersey."

"I'm most proud of my team. The way they raced today was truly incredible. And not just today—every single day. So yes, that's what I'm most proud of," he says, thanking Jack Haig, among others, for their hard work.

Normally, August—who has already won stages in Valencia and the Basque Country this year—will be at the start of his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, next week. In the long term, he also hopes to compete for the top spots in the three-week races. “It’s definitely a career goal of mine to one day compete at the top for the general classification, so why not?”

One day after his overall victory in the Czech Republic, Pinarello-Q36.5 announced that it will be able to count on August's services for the next three years. 'The victory in the Tour of the Czech Republic was a confirmation for me. I already felt very strong during training in the weeks leading up to it, and then everything fell into place.

Winning the general classification and two stages gives me a lot of self-confidence. I am still discovering what my limits are and what kind of rider I can become. At the moment, I just want to keep discovering that and win as many races as possible.'

The rider from New York wants to build on the steps he has already taken since entering the WorldTour at the age of 18. 'Cycling in the US is totally different from cycling in Europe, so it was a big transition, both as a junior and later as a professional. Joining INEOS at age 18 meant jumping straight into the deep end, but it did give me the chance to learn how cycling works at the highest level.'

'From my first conversations with Pinarello Q36.5, the team's professionalism made a big impression on me. It gave me the strong feeling that this is the best place to continue my development and become the best rider I can be,' said August, whose words are echoed by team manager Doug Ryder.

"Andrew is a rider who has been impressing us for a while. At just 20 years old, he has already gained valuable WorldTour experience, and what stands out is how quickly he continues to develop. His performances this season, including two stage wins and the overall victory in the Tour of the Czech Republic, demonstrate both his talent and his ability to convert potential into results. We are convinced that Andrew possesses all the qualities to become one of the best riders of his generation. He is ambitious, dedicated to his development, and constantly looking for ways to improve. Just as important is that he has the right mentality and professionalism to succeed at the highest level of the sport.

Our goal is to provide him with the environment, support, and opportunities he needs to further develop. We view this as a long-term project and are excited to help him take the next steps in his career. Andrew has already shown what he is capable of, but we believe there is still plenty of room for growth, and we look forward to seeing how far he can go in the coming years.