INEOS extends with more than 30(!) years of experience - just before remarkable 2026 jersey is leaked

You have veterans, and then you have veterans. INEOS Grenadiers remains home to a group of loyal riders who have defended the British team’s colours for many years. The team clearly recognises their value, offering new contracts to several long-serving members - alongside three additional riders - to keep the core of the squad firmly intact.

Michal Kwiatkowski has been part of Team Sky and its successors since 2016. The Pole won major races such as Milan–Sanremo and the Amstel Gold Race with the team, although his last few seasons have brought fewer big results. Still, the former world champion, now 35, claimed victory at the Clásica Jaén this year and shows no sign of slowing down. He has renewed his contract for no less than three more years.

This extension keeps him with INEOS at least through 2028. “It feels natural to stay,” he said on the team’s website. “I love the atmosphere, the people and the way we work. I’m not here to stay in my comfort zone, I’m here because this is where I push myself every day. I feel joy when things go well and I feel supported when they don’t.”

As a domestique and road captain, you could hardly wish for a more reliable rider than Kwiatkowski. And the Pole is far from finished with pro cycling. "This team has been my home for so many years, and I still feel the same hunger and motivation every time I pin on a number. What keeps me here is the people, the trust and the shared ambition to keep performing at the highest level."

Ben Swift has an even longer history with the team. He was part of the original Team Sky lineup when the project launched in 2010. After a two-year spell with UAE Team Emirates, he returned to familiar surroundings. Now 38, the former British champion has extended his contract for another year, heading into his 15th(!) season in the British setup.

Swift can hardly imagine riding anywhere else. “This team has been such a big part of my life and to head into an 18th season as a pro is fantastic,”I still love the racing, the camaraderie and the purpose we all share. It’s a privilege to help guide the younger riders and play my part in the next chapter of the Grenadiers."

In addition to Swift and Kwiatkowski, INEOS Grenadiers have renewed the contracts of Lucas Hamilton, Kim Heiduk and Brandon Rivera. The Australian has signed a two-year extension, while the Colombian and German riders are now committed to the team through 2026. Between them, the five riders bring more than 30 years of combined experience to the Grenadiers.

Shortly after the contract announcements, the first image of the new INEOS 2026 kit was leaked. Josh Tarling posed in the updated design—and it looks rather different. The familiar red-orange colour makes a return, but the white accents - first seen on the Tour de France jersey - have been significantly expanded and even appear to extend onto the shorts. What's your verdict?