‘Still plenty to unlock’ – Confirmation that Sam Welsford will be launching from the ‘dialled’ lead out of Ineos Grenadiers in 2026 and 2027

The information wasn’t precisely a shock given Sam Welsford had already been noticed on the Ineos Grenadiers group camp earlier in December, however now the Australian sprinter’s place on the group for the following two seasons has been confirmed and the British squad is getting set to revive its ‘dialled’ lead out.

Whereas sprinting hasn’t all the time been excessive on the precedence record on the group throughout its existence, the squad did ship a reminder that they’d what it takes to ship a quick finisher as just lately as this 12 months after they helped revive the successful methods of one other Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan, who then signed off from his profession mid-season on a powerful word.

“We haven’t had many sprinters within the group previously however when we now have, they’ve been fairly profitable, so hopefully Sam can proceed that historical past,” mentioned Ineos Grenadiers Director of Racing Geraint Thomas.

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“Having been given an early perception into what he’s able to bodily, we consider there’s nonetheless loads to unlock with Sam. The group has proven how dialled we’re in positioning our quick guys for the end, and we’ll do the identical to present him alternatives to win.”

When Ineos introduced Ewan on board an enormous a part of his programme to attempt to get again the successful velocity that had taken him to 5 stage wins at each the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia was monitor coaching, a path proper up Welsford’s alley. After his late signing in a perilously tight market Welsford will work with new sport director and just lately retired sprinter and a number of monitor world champion, Elia Viviani to assist set in practice a profitable path at his new group, which might be his third since including WorldTour racing to his monitor commitments in 2022.

“He’s bought an ideal monitor pedigree – Olympic and a number of world champion within the group pursuit – so the way in which he’s used to working there’ll match proper into our group surroundings as effectively. I’m tremendous excited to see him get caught in,” mentioned Thomas.

The rider, who was a part of Australia’s Olympic gold-medal-winning Group Pursuit group in Paris, has gained three levels of the Santos Tour Down Underneath every of the previous two years with Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Nonetheless the 29-year-old up to now hasn’t managed to maintain the WorldTour wins rolling by means of the remainder of the season however his may very well be simply the set off he wants to alter that.

“I really feel like that is the precise proper surroundings for me to maintain progressing as a sprinter and to chase large outcomes,” mentioned Welsford. “I’m very hungry to contribute, to be taught and to race with the sort of intent that this group is famend for.”