INEOS GRENADIERS: SEASON REVIEW -

The INEOS Grenadiers began the 2021 season with arguably their strongest ever line-up that included a raft of stage-racing talent such as Egan Bernal, Richard Carapaz, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Filippo Ganna, Gianni Moscon and Geraint Thomas. Exciting prospects bolstered the all-star cast such as Tom Pidcock and Ethan Hayter.

There were plenty of stage wins and overall wins that demonstrated the depth of the Grenadiers’ roster. Ivan Sosa took the first overall win of the season back in February in the Tour de la Provence followed by Adam Yates the following month who led a brilliant sweep of the Volta a Catalunya podium with Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas.

Next up, Geraint Thomas recovered quickly to take the overall win in the Tour de Romandie a day after crashing inside the final 50 metres of the previous day’s mountain stage to Thyon. It was a pleasing win for him and the team, particularly as the crash had cost him the chance to move into the yellow jersey.

At the end of May came one of the biggest victories of the season. Egan Bernal’s prior back issues appeared to be behind him as he retained the pink jersey and claimed overall victory in the Giro d’Italia. It was the team’s second consecutive Maglia Rosa after Tao Geoghegan Hart’s win last October.

It was an exceptional team win enabled in part by Filippo Ganna’s significant Time Trial heroics at Stage 1 and Stage 21. Despite a puncture that threatened to derail his and the team’s chances of an overall victory, Ganna celebrated winning his record fifth TT in the Giro.

The following month, Richie Porte gave his homeland something to celebrate as he became the first Australian in 36 years to win the Criterium du Dauphine. The two-time runner-up took victory after a 147-kilometre final stage through the Haute-Savoie Alps to Les Getts. Geraint Thomas managed to recover from another fall to provide vital support and come in third.

A week later, on June 13, after being left with only one teammate three kilometres before the top of the final climb of the exciting 160K final stage, Richard Carapaz took the overall win in the Tour de Suisse. He then went on to secure the team’s second Grand Tour podium of the season, and his third in three years, at the Tour de France. The wily Ecuadorian appeared to be really struggling towards the end, but it was clearly a ruse and he had the reserves to finish strong and take third place overall.

After multiple stage wins throughout the season, one of the team’s youngest riders, Ethan Hayter, got hot and won the Tour of Norway two weeks after his silver medal in Tokyo. After a strong fight, Hayter also finished second at the Tour of Britain.

A week later, Ganna took gold at the World TT Championship, securing him his second successive worlds TT title by six seconds. Hayter had another strong ride, finishing eighth in his first senior worlds time trial event, making it two Grenadiers in the top 10.

Returning from a fractured pelvis, van Baarle managed to out-sprint his rivals after a ruthless 6 hour race, taking second place at the World Championships in Flanders.

Fast forward to October, Yates became the second British rider to step onto the Il Lombardia podium after Tom Simpson won it in 1965. Finishing his season strong, he took 3^rd place, another podium finish for the Grenadiers.

This was closely followed by another phenomenal performance at the National Championships with Hayter taking the British TT title with a clear lead of just under 40 seconds. An impressive win which brought him his ninth victory of the season.

As the season came to an end, Ben Swift finished strong and following a dramatic final lap, won his second successive British National Road Race title in Lincoln.

Reflecting on the season, Rod Ellinwood, the INEOS Grenadiers race director praised it as one of the Team’s best years yet.

Science in Sport is proud to continue to partner with INEOS Grenadiers, announcing a three-year extension to its partnership earlier in 2021.

Building on the team’s achievements to date, Science in Sport will work closely with the team to provide innovative performance nutrition solutions to fuel further victories in the seasons ahead.