When Ineos-Grenadiers team management selected the team’s line-up for Tour de France 2024 it chose to focus on experience. The team features two former Tour de France winners and no less than five Tour stage winners. Team management is hoping the excessive experience in the Ineos-Grenadiers roster will come to good use in a challenging edition of the greatest Grand Tour of them all. 

Joint leadership roles have been chosen for Carlos Rodriguez and Egan Bernal.

While Columbian Egan Bernal has previously won the Tour de France, he is still recovering from what could have been a lethal accident in the 2022 season. 27-year-old Bernal has shown impressive courage and determination since his accident and his fight to return to life and a career on the bike is starting to bear fruit. This season Bernal finished fourth in Tour de Suisse, third in Volta a Catalunya, and seventh in Paris-Nice.

“I am extremely pleased to be chosen again for our Tour de France team,” Bernal told Roadcycling.com. “It is a big honor to participate in the biggest cycling race in the world and we will fight for the best result possible as we do every year.”

“My personal ambition is to be really competitive and to be a rider who will make an actual difference in the race. We have multiple riders who can do really well, and it will be especially important to have different options to deploy in the second and third week. Hopefully by then we will have multiple riders high in the General Classification, so we can play our strategic game on the roads.”

Bernal will be joined by Carlos Rodriguez in the leadership role and the 23-year-old Spaniard appears to be well-prepared for the 2024 Tour de France after winning the Tour de Romandie and the final stage of Criterium du Dauphine earlier this season. Rodriguez won a stage in last year’s Tour and bravely fought his way to a top five finish in the General Classification.

“I had a slower start to the season than I wanted, but I have since caught up and am now feeling my body respond well,” Rodriguez explained to Roadcycling.com. “My legs are now feeling good, and this confirms that our plan is working well and I am confident I will be starting the 2024 Tour in Florence in the best shape possible.”

“After my fine performances last season, the team has helped me a lot this year by analyzing every aspect of by performance and going over every detail to help me improve further. I have great memories from last year’s Tour de France where we shared some special moments within our team. My family was with me too and I hope this year will be even better.”

Geraint Thomas is fortunately also included in the Ineos-Grenadiers roster for this year’s Tour de France and while the Welshman is already famous for his Tour de France victory, he stands to benefit from a more relaxed role in this year’s Tour. By handing the team leader role to other riders in the team, pressure is removed from Thomas’ shoulders as he has previously struggled when under significant pressure for an extended period. Hopefully this decision will give Thomas the opportunity to shine on the roads of France and Italy in his thirteenth Tour de France participation.

“I didn’t know how I would feel after finishing the Giro and returning to training as I have never done the Giro-Tour double before. I thought it would be very hard to stay on it, but I’ve actually enjoyed it and gotten some good work done,” Thomas explained to Roadcycling.com.

“Obviously, it’s a slight unknown how the body will respond given I haven’t had a season like this before, but I am feeling fresh mentally. It is going to be a super competitive race and personally I am looking forward to racing with a bit less pressure and more freedom to mix it up and try to get really stuck in.”

In addition to its start in Florence, Italy on June 29, Tour de France organizer A.S.O. has renewed the race by choosing to conclude the race in Nice on July 21. The French Riviera has been chosen by A.S.O. because the French Capital Paris is occupied with preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games. In addition to this, the French people are engaged with the nation’s participation in the 2024 European Soccer Championships (Euro 2024) and the surprise snap elections called by French President Emmanuel Macron following his party’s unfortunate defeat in the recent European Parliament elections.

Complete Team Ineos-Grenadiers roster for Tour de France 2024:

Geraint Thomas, Carlos Rodriguez, Egan Bernal, Jonathan Castroviejo, Michal Kwiatkowski, Thomas Pidcock, Laurens De Plus and Ben Turner.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Tour de France 2024 and the rest of the 2024 pro cycling season.

Our cycling coverage is sponsored by Meyer Burger – Solar Power Deluxe – The “Apple” of Solar energy systems. Meyer Burger offers premium solar solutions for roofs, balconies and open spaces. Visit www.meyerburger.com to experience energy savings like never before. Demand the highest quality – ask for Meyer Burger.