"I signed as a team leader": Kévin Vauquelin breaks down every detail of his INEOS transfer

“I am extremely proud to be able to strengthen a team like INEOS Grenadiers,” said the 24-year-old Frenchman when his transfer was announced. “They have shaped the history of the sport for more than a year, both in the Grand Tours and across the calendar. I'm still in shock. For me, it's the logical next step in my career to continue my growth.”

“It's a logical choice,” the future INEOS rider further explained his decision to Eurosport. “It has always been a dream team for me. I come from the track; we know how demanding the British are in terms of performance, sometimes even more so than other countries. It has always appealed to me.”

“In my quest to reach 100% of my potential, I think it's a wise move,” Vauquelin continued. “It also allows me to step out of my comfort zone. I grew up with Arkéa, that's where I had my ‘family’. I need to get away from that for a while and challenge myself with even stronger and more experienced riders,” he said.

The question then, of course, is: what role will the Frenchman play in his new team? “I signed as a team leader, a rider who can influence the race. The summer certainly contributed to that,” he says, referring to the Tour de France, in which Vauquelin performed brilliantly at the highest level and ultimately finished seventh in the GC.

“INEOS is a team that really suits me and is now getting back on track,” says Vauquelin, who sees his new team playing an increasingly prominent role. “It’s an opportunity to leverage INEOS’s experience and put it to use, along with the discovery side that I was able to develop at Arkéa, where I built myself up as a person.”

As one of the team leaders, Vauquelin will be making his debut with INEOS, but in what kind of races will he be competing? The Frenchman excelled in the Tour, but also showcased his talent in one-day races. “I'm still discovering myself, looking for the area of expression that suits me best,” he explains.

The big goal is clear in any case: “To win a week-long race. I think that's becoming increasingly possible. I'm thinking of Paris-Nice, for example. In the case of a team time trial, it's an advantage to ride with INEOS Grenadiers, with possibly Filippo Ganna, Thymen Arensman, Magnus Sheffield, and that time trial expertise...”

Yet this summer's amazing Tour also raises questions for Vauquelin, because shouldn't he just have ambitions in the Grand Tours? “I wanted that a long time ago, but I could never have the confidence to do it. This has been made possible by my teammates and the Arkéa staff.”

“I discovered these long efforts, with legendary cols, in three weeks,” the Frenchman continues. “I didn't have a bad day. I discovered myself sooner than expected, and now we have higher expectations. If I could do it once, why not do it again?” It seems that there are plans for three-week races after all.