The recently appointed CEO of Ineos Grenadiers, John Allert, refutes claims that Dave Brailsford has abandoned cycling to focus on his position at Manchester United.

Alert clarified that Brailsford, who is currently conducting an audit of Manchester United due to Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent acquisition of a minority stake in the club, holds a position that grants him oversight over multiple sports within the company’s portfolio.

Allert stated that Dave is the team’s founder and it is an honor to have him still involved with the team. Dave serves as the director of Ineos Sport and has a wide range of responsibilities that extend beyond cycling.

“Dave’s love for and successful experience in cycling is evident, so it should come as no surprise to see him participate in races. However, he will not be joining races to critique our performance. His presence is solely to support the team, as he does with all teams.”

Allert recognized that the lengthy pursuit of another Tour de France triumph, combined with the emergence of competitors like Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease A Bike team (previously known as Jumbo-Visma), who claimed victory in all three of Europe’s Grand Tours in 2023, has shifted Ineos Grenadiers to a position of chasing rather than being the leader.

Allert remarked that his team, led by Egan Bernal, has brought about a change in perspective. Since their victory in the Tour in 2019, the team has shifted to new leadership and now consists of a talented group of riders who have made a promising start to the season.

Alert refuted speculations that the team’s budget had been decreased, despite Ratcliffe’s increasing investments in other areas of the Ineos sports portfolio. “Our budget remains the same. There has been no decrease,” he stated.

Allert, whose reputation in cycling is founded on his time spent as managing director of Ratcliffe’s team, will be supported by the new performance director, Scott Drawer, formerly with Team GB.

“It is not by chance that our athletic success is attributed to a scientist who is also an innovator and known for disrupting norms. While this may not be the sole solution, we are determined to exhaust all possibilities.”

Despite losing some key riders, such as 2020 Giro d’Italia champion Tao Geoghegan Hart, at the end of the previous season, Allert believes that the 2024 Ineos Grenadiers team still has a strong group of riders capable of excelling in general classification.

I think we have several skilled GC riders, including two Tour champions and promising up-and-comers. Our goals are to place as high as we can on the podium in the Tour and any other Grand Tour.

It is uncertain if this will occur in the current year or the following year. The competition is intense, but we welcome it as it will likely improve our performance.

Source: theguardian.com