‘Like a kid in a sweet shop’: Brailsford back calling shots at Ineos Grenadiers

Dave Brailsford has returned to a leading role at Ineos Grenadiers on the eve of the 2025 Tour de France, calling the shots on team selection and performance objectives, barely a month after he stepped back from his role at Manchester United.

“Dave’s definitely coming to the Tour,” John Allert, the team CEO, said. “He’s like a kid in a sweet shop, talking about climbs and getting back to the mountains. That’s the battlefield that he knows and loves.

Brailsford, who steered British Cycling to serial Olympic success and Team Skyto Tour de France dominance, will be present for much of this year’s Tour, as Geraint Thomas, the 2018 champion, makes his final appearance in the three-week race.

“We have welcomed him back into the team with open arms,” Allert said of Brailsford’s return. “He’s a not-so-secret weapon for us to use, and we plan on using him to the fullest extent we can. It’s great to have him back.”

Brailsford’s last-minute intervention in rider selection is rumoured to have delayed the team announcement until 48 hours before the Tour’s Grand Départ in Lille. “Dave’s got stuck straight in, there’s no doubt about that.” Allert said. “And he loves it. But was that a reason for us being late? Not really. We had a couple of illness and injury issues. It’s later than we wanted, but it’s the right team at the right moment.”

Allert said that it was unknown how many stages of the Tour Brailsford would attend. “[It’s] unclear to be honest. I think he’ll be there whenever we need him, when he feels he can be adding the most value. His travel plans are basically to be available for the whole thing, and I think he’ll be there for a lot of it.”

Brailsford’s return will be welcome news for Thomas, who last July compared the team’s management to a “coalition government”, while also bemoaning Brailsford’s absence. “It was a lot more straightforward with Dave at the top,” Thomas said during the 2024 Tour. “There was clarity with everything. There was a simple process, whereas now it’s got a lot more complicated.”

A Brailsford-led team last won the Tour in 2019 with the Colombian rider Egan Bernal. “It’s obvious we want to win the Tour,” Allert added, “but there’s no point just saying you want to win the Tour: you’ve got to do something about it. That’s why it’s great to welcome Dave back into the fold. Dave loves a performance challenge and this is the biggest one there is.”