Sir Dave Brailsford announces Ineos Grenadiers leadership for Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España
Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates will all be given leadership opportunities in 2021


Sir Dave Brailsford has announced his team’s leadership for the 2021 editions of the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Ineos Grenadiers boast multiple Grand Tour winners in their roster, making race leadership a tough decision for management, but the team have opted to give Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates their own opportunities this season.
As reported by CyclingNews, Brailsford announced that Bernal would lead the team in the Giro d’Italia, Thomas would return to the Tour de France as their chosen rider, while Yates will challenge for the Vuelta a España later in the season.
Brailsford said: “Do we put all our top riders in the Tour or spread them across the three?
“I think this gives us a nice balance across the races.”
Bernal will race the Giro d’Italia in May, his first Grand Tour since abandoning the 2020 Tour de France due to back problems.
The 24-year-old Colombian, winner of the 2019 Tour de France, has been addressing his back problems over the winter after discovering they were caused by having one leg slightly longer than the other.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Brailsford said Bernal needs to “find the joy of racing again,” suggesting he may have become too focused on results.
The team principal added that Bernal could also ride the Tour, but his main focus is the Giro.
Thomas, 34, winner of the 2018 Tour, will return to France once again after the disappointment of crashing out of the Giro d’Italia last year.
Brailsford says this year’s Tour suits Thomas’s attributes, due to the time trial kilometres, the nature of the climbs, and the chances of crosswinds in the opening week, and that the Welshman is highly motivated to perform.
Richard Carapaz, winner of the 2019 Giro d'Italia, will also ride the Tour along with last year's Giro winner Tao Geoghegan Hart, Brailsford confirmed.
>>> Tao Geoghegan Hart will ride Tour de France over Giro d’Italia this season
For the Vuelta new signing Adam Yates, who parted ways with Mitchelton-Scott (and his twin brother Simon) at the end of last season, will be given his first Grand Tour leadership in Ineos colours.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
UPDATE: 'We are on, until we are not' - Mid South Gravel thrown into chaos as area wildfires force evacuations
Local authorities and race officials continue to monitor the situation, urging participants and spectators to stay informed and prioritise safety
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
'It was a bit worse than this but the outcome was the same’ - Brutal day out at Paris-Nice leaves Mads Pedersen reminiscing about World Championships win
Former world champion reflects on a hard day of racing on the Côte d'Azur
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Geraint Thomas represented 'all the best things about the golden era of British Cycling' - tributes paid to retiring rider
Former and current teammates and other figures from within pro cycling react to the Welshman’s decision to retire at the end of the current season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers win first pro race in 226 days as Michał Kwiatkowski triumphs at Clásica Jaén
It was the Pole's 32nd professional victory, and his first since 2023
By Adam Becket Published