INEOS Grenadiers is joining forces with the Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank team. From 2025, the German continental formation will act as the official development team of the British team. This move aims to ensure the team's future after an extremely troubled year.
The collaboration is not illogical. Before the deal, INEOS Grenadiers acquired talents such as Josh Tarling, AJ August, and Michael Leonard from the continental formation. "Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank provides an outstanding competitive environment which will give our youngest riders valuable racing experience," tells Scott Drawer, Performance Director at INEOS Grenadiers. "Key riders will be selected and placed with the Lotto Kern-Haus team while still being coached and supported by INEOS Grenadiers staff. We see this as a 'finishing school' for young talent before their transition to the WorldTour, akin to that of a loan club in professional footbal."
Florian Monreal is the owner of Lotto Kern-Haus, "It is a very important step for the team to have a development partnership with a World Tour team like the INEOS Grenadiers," he says enthusiastically. "They are one of the world's best WorldTour teams and it is an honour and recognition for the very good work we have been doing over the years. Thanks to our network and various collaborations, we always have very good talent in the team and the racing calendar is at an absolutely top level."
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Another name at the German formation that will be crucial in developing the young talent is Torsten Schmidt, a former rider. After his professional career, he became a team manager at Katusha and Bora-Hansgrohe. "One of the best jobs in cycling is helping young cyclists at the start of their careers. In my past as a team leader in the WorldTour, I have had to do this several times, and I still have a strong bond with many of those athletes."