INEOS announces eight with which it is going to the Tour and looks to be competing on two fronts

As expected, Carlos Rodriguez will lead the charge for INEOS. “It was a tough start to the season with my crash in February, but I recovered fairly quickly and have been building since then,” said the Spaniard. “The goal has always been to arrive at the Tour in my best shape, and so far everything has gone to plan. I’ve prepared well with some high-quality training and solid race days in the legs.”

“Of course, it’s going to be a tough race against the best in the world, but we’ll give it everything and aim to be up there,” Rodriguez added. “It’s going to be an epic race and a real spectacle for the fans.” The Spaniard already knows what winning in the Tour feels like — he took stage 14 to Morzine back in 2023.

Despite a recent crash in Switzerland, Geraint Thomas will also be on the start line. The Welsh veteran will ride his final Tour this year. “I'm really looking forward to my last Tour. It’ll be my fourteenth, which sounds crazy. I never thought I’d still be doing it after my debut in 2007. I’ve definitely had my ups and downs, but it’s an amazing race — the biggest and best in the world, and my favorite.”

“It’s never easy and always incredibly tough, but this year my approach will be the same as always: give everything on the road to help the team be as successful as possible,” Thomas continued. “We’ll all have an important role to play, and I’ll definitely play mine. A three-week, all-inclusive cycling holiday through France — what’s not to like?!”

Performance director Scott Drawer provided more context to the team’s selection. “We’ve chosen a strong and experienced group of riders with the shared knowledge of how to compete across three weeks against the toughest opponents in our sport. Carlos will be our leader, based on his consistent climbing, unwavering determination, and resilience. He’s been laser-focused on building towards the Tour all year and comes into the race in great form.”

“Carlos will be backed by a team that’s already raced several editions of the Tour de France and has the experience to handle whatever the race throws at us. Geraint, as a former winner, will be an invaluable source of support for Carlos and the entire team — both on and off the bike — thanks to his experience and calm mindset,” said Drawer.

Alongside Thomas and Rodriguez, INEOS has selected a strong lineup including Thymen Arensman, Tobias Foss, Filippo Ganna, Axel Laurance, Connor Swift, and newly crowned British road race champion Sam Watson. “As a team, we’ve raced this season the way we love to: aggressively, with freedom and flair — and we’re ready to bring more of the same to the biggest race of the year,” Drawer concluded

Carlos Rodriguez