Ineos Grenadiers have said they’ll be heading into the Tour de France with a trio of leaders to challenge for the overall standings in Geraint Thomas, Dani Martínez and Adam Yates.
Tom Pidcock will also be among the riders lining up in Copenhagen, as he makes his Tour de France debut alongside time trial world champion Filippo Ganna, while the team will be completed by the experience of Jonathan Castroviejo, Luke Rowe and Dylan van Baarle.
“In Adam, Dani and Geraint we have three fantastic GC heavyweights who can mount a real challenge,” deputy Team Principal Rod Ellingworth said in a statement. “They have proved their form across the season and are lining up in Copenhagen in great shape.
“It’s also a proud moment for the team to see Filippo and Tom make their Tour de France debuts. They’re phenomenal riders who have big careers ahead of them and both are ready to leave their mark on the Tour. And no team could ask for three better super domestiques than Dylan, Jonathan and Luke. Collectively they have racing instincts and experience that are second to none.”
Itzulia Basque Country winner Martínez has long looked a strong contender for the GC leadership role but Yates was in doubt after having to leave the Tour de Suisse before stage 5 after a positive COVID-19 test. That race, however, was where the 2018 Tour de France winner Thomas made it clear he was back in contention as an overall threat after a winter interrupted by shoulder surgery and COVID-19.
Yates and Martínez were expected to take the reins at the race but Thomas became the outright team leader after Martínez lost ground on the opening stage and then Yates had to leave. He finished it off by rising to the top spot in the final stage time trial to take the victory.
After that Thomas said he just wanted to “go there, race hard and do what I can” acknowledging the team may not have individuals to match the strength of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) or Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) but when it came to collective strength it was a different matter.
Ineos Grenadiers team for the 2022 Tour de France
- Jonathan Castroviejo
- Filippo Ganna
- Daniel Martinez
- Tom Pidcock
- Luke Rowe
- Geraint Thomas
- Dylan van Baarle
- Adam Yates
