Netcompany INEOS are about to switch things up at the Tour de France: 'Going through ups and downs'
CyclingThursday, 16 July 2026 at 22:10
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Follow us on GoogleNetcompany INEOS is ready to make its mark on the second half of the Tour de France. The British team arrived in France with big ambitions, but was really only in contention for the stage win on Day 1 in the team time trial. After sprint opportunities for Dorian Godon and, above all, a string of crashes, Netcompany INEOS will be changing its strategy starting Friday. IDL Pro Cycling spoke with team director Daryl Impey.
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As mentioned, the team got off to an excellent start in the Tour de France, finishing second in the team time trial. Filippo Ganna was the finisher, but what might have been possible if the intended finisher, Kévin Vauquelin, hadn’t suffered a flat tire? On general classification stages 2, 3, 6, and 10, INEOS didn’t factor in, just as they didn’t in the sprint stages 5, 7, 8, and 11.
This was partly due to a crash by Godon during the opening weekend, in which the Frenchman suffered an elbow injury. The puncher, who had impressed this year with stage wins at Paris-Nice, Catalonia, and Romandie, only finished in the top ten in the sprint in Bordeaux. In the other stages suited for sprinters, he failed to make an impact. To make matters worse, he crashed hard during the final sprint opportunity in Stage 11.
And so, for the time being, they’ll have to bench Godon at Netcompany INEOS. But who will replace him in the upcoming stages? Vauquelin didn’t have the legs during the opening weekend, though he did gradually find his form in the Tour and was in the mix on Day 4. Tobias Foss and Thymen Arensman crashed in Stage 3 and both needed a few days to recover.
And then there was Filippo Ganna, who, after the team time trial on Day 1, almost invariably finished among the last riders in the days that followed. He struggled with the heat, but was suddenly back in the mix on Day 9. Netcompany INEOS saw that he was climbing well and surviving the final stretch, so they went all out to chase him down. The breakaway group, led by stage winner Mathieu van der Poel, wasn’t caught, but Ganna did sprint to fifth place.
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Godon took a hard fall in Stage 11.
Arensman and Ganna have recovered from a difficult first week
In the eleventh stage, we saw Ganna and Foss join in on the many attacks in the final stretch, which was a good sign for team director Impey. “The first week was tough for everyone, but we shouldn’t forget that Filippo, Thymen, and Egan also rode the Giro d’Italia in May. That was a real blow to their systems during an intense period. It makes sense that they’re going through ups and downs.”
However, Ganna seems to have found his form and is poised to put on a good show in the second half of the Tour de France. According to Impey, he has other plans besides the time trial in Stage 16. “His performance in Stage 9 has given us and Pippo hope. We have high hopes for him; he’s already marked a few stages on his calendar. And when he does that, we’ve seen that he’s capable of great things.”
There was also good news regarding Arensman, as the Dutch rider had already had to put his general classification ambitions on hold due to a knee injury. “Thymen initially came here with ambitions to win stages as well, after riding a successful Giro,” a reference to his fourth-place finish in May. “We had expected a few bad days, and he’s had time to bounce back. We’re taking it day by day.”
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Filippo Ganna
Bernal aims to keep pace with dominant UAE Emirates-XRG in the Tour de France GC
With Ganna, Arensman, Foss, Vauquelin, and Michal Kwiatkowski as well, Netcompany INEOS has plenty of riders to launch attacks. Joshua Tarling, too—having just made it to the Tour after a lightning-fast recovery from a broken collarbone—will want to make his mark. The problem: in the first eleven days, the attackers only managed to cross the finish line ahead of the peloton twice.
It was often the sprinters’ race, but on some days when a breakaway was planned, it was also UAE Emirates-XRG that dominated the race with Tadej Pogacar. “If I were in their situation, I would have done the same. If you have the ability to go for the stage win... But no one is unbeatable; we’re not going to stop trying. They’re strong, but we have big ambitions and want to race to achieve them.”
On days when UAE is in control and the general classification contenders are battling for the stage win, Netcompany has a surprising wild card in Bernal. The Colombian champion had an excellent first week, and although he lost some time on Stage 10, after eleven days he’s right on the heels of the top ten in the general classification. The climber and 2019 Tour winner can now go all out for that spot.
"A top-ten finish would be great for him. He’s still a racer and a killer; a strong overall finish in this Tour could give his confidence a boost," said Impey. “Ultimately, we’re here for stage wins—that’s where our focus lies. We can only win stages from a breakaway, so we have to take risks. UAE will get tired too; on those days, we’ll have to strike.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Not convinced by the “Giro legs” excuse. Plenty did the double and look fine. If they’re “all in” for breaks, show it earlier in the stages—too reactive so far.cyclechamp4516-07-2026
- - Egan for top 10? Sí se puede! But only if UAE ease off a bit in the medium mountains. Otherwise, he’ll need a perfectly timed break. Vamos campeón.julien16-07-2026
- - Quick question: why was Vauquelin the intended finisher for the TTT over Ganna? Was it about the final ramp or just GC positioning?jeremya16-07-2026
- - Godon’s crashes really changed their Tour. Shame, he looked sharp in Romandie. Curious if Kwiato gets a free role now for a medium-mountain ambush.velodromevirtuoso116-07-2026
- - Love the switch in strategy. If Pippo’s climbing like he did on Stage 9, circle Stages 16 andPerfect terrain for a long-range Ganna missile.davidm16-07-2026
- Tough read but fair. Addy Engels’ quote felt spot-on: you can’t coach out that attacking DNA. Just wish the article gave more watts/heat index context—how hot was Le Lioran? Sin embargo, forza Julian, encore un effort!jennifer1916-07-2026
- Can someone explain how a rider can be outside the top 500 UCI but still get Tour leadership chances? Is that normal selection-wise or more about wildcard politics and his name value?jeremya16-07-2026
- He’s 34, had big crashes and mono rumors in past seasons, plus the heat—no shock he’s struggling on short climbs taken at threshold-plus. Still, GP Québec last year wasn’t a fluke. Let him hunt stages in cooler Alps days, not furnace stages.lindae16-07-2026
- Wait, he switched to Tudor in 2025, but we’re talking about this year’s Tour? Did you mean 2026 season or is the timeline off? Bit confusing tbh.samanthak16-07-2026
- Hard to watch but I still back Loulou. Heat’s clearly cooking him—he’s always been a punchy rider who thrives in cooler Ardennes conditions. If Tudor want results, target Canadian races and one‑day punchers again, not TdF GC scraps. Allez!michael5416-07-2026
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