TotalEnergies' potential deal could potentially signal the transformation of Ineos Grenadiers as currently recognized.
Ineos Grenadiers, the British cycling team, may be undergoing a significant change in the near future, as negotiations for a potential partnership with TotalEnergies are currently in progress.
According to reports, the rebrand could potentially be announced at this summer's Tour de France, marking a potential shift in national identity for the team. If successful, the partnership is set to begin in 2026.
The team's CEO, John Allert, has stated that they are seeking to bring in other parties to grow their overall budget. New funding from Total could help Ineos compete for high-profile riders who are currently bound for UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike.
However, the team has had their worst year on record in 2024, and additional financial aid could help them regain their standing in the WorldTour. Ineos will need a new star rider to replace Tom Pidcock, who moved to Q36.5, and Geraint Thomas has announced his retirement at the end of the season.
The focus of team owner Jim Ratcliffe's investments seems to be shifting towards Manchester United, potentially leaving Ineos Grenadiers in need of a second sponsor. Ratcliffe has been under intense scrutiny for his decisions at Manchester United, and the team has plans for a new stadium, requiring a significant financial investment.
It is unclear what the new partnership with Ineos could mean for the currently existing TotalEnergies, the former ProTeam of Peter Sagan. Climate activists in France targeted TotalEnergies headquarters in Paris last year, raising concerns about the environmental impact of such partnerships.
Ineos Grenadiers currently have six British riders, and have already signed Axel Laurance, an up-coming French talent. The team's first race day as Team Ineos in 2019 was met with criticism from climate activists, who protested against the team's first sponsor, Shell. British Cycling received high levels of criticism when they announced their partnership with Shell in 2022.
If the partnership with TotalEnergies is successful, it could potentially mean that most major WorldTour squads are registered in the country in which their lead sponsors operate. However, it is not necessarily a move to France for Ineos Grenadiers if TotalEnergies takes up co-title sponsorship.
The search results do not provide information about the size of the Ineos Grenadiers team or potential changes in size due to a new identity with TotalEnergies. The team will need to find a way to maintain their competitive edge while navigating these changes.
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