Racing

What is going on with the Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France?

And no, this time we’re not talking about the off-road stuff…

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Ineos Grenadiers head carer leaves Tour de France as anti-doping authority launches fresh investigation into 2012 texts

The long-term staff member, the former personal soigneur of Chris Froome, has received a request from the International Testing Agency to attend an interview over alleged texts with convicted doping doctor Mark Schmidt

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“I’ve no ego to retire at the top. I’m happy to go full circle”: Lizzie Deignan retires immediately from professional cycling after announcing third pregnancy

The former world champion had previously stated she was set to retire at the end of 2025, but issued the surprise announcement on Thursday

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Tadej Pogačar crashes into Visma-Lease a Bike team car as driver “brake checks” him before start of Tour de France queen stage – but yellow jersey says “we’re good”

Aggressive tactics by Visma this morning…

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“This will sound super arrogant, but some guys can stay quiet”: Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar hits back at “arrogance” and “bullying” claims after rival team boss says “the big boys want to crush the little boys”

“Arrogance is one thing, trying to win the Tour de France is another thing,” the yellow jersey said, while also noting that cycling is growing in the UAE after being questioned on the nation’s human rights record

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How to hide your mates from the wind: science-backed tactics for reducing drag

Trying to tow a teammate back to the bunch – or just help a mate who’s blown a gasket? A new study shows the best way to minimise one rider’s effort when riding in a small group

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“Prankster” invades Tour de France finish on bike and tackled by police after jumping barriers moments before sprint

The 31-year-old member of the public, wearing a Decathlon-AG2R jersey and with a fake number pinned to his bike, made it across the finish line before he was shoulder barged by a member of the French riot police

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Tadej Pogačar riding special edition Colnago Y1Rs as Tour de France hits Mont Ventoux: paper-thin finish, sprint shifters and weight-saving accessories complete unique build

After destroying the field aboard a hill climb version of his favoured aero bike on stage 13, the race leader deploys another modified version of the Colnago Y1RS built to tackle a long, varied stage with a fearsome Ventoux finish

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“We didn’t come here to do a GC, but people don’t believe me!” Team boss says “special talent” Oscar Onley’s Tour de France performance is “not surprising” – but admits podium bid is “exceeding expectations”

“Whatever happens during the last week, we’ll be really proud of Oscar in Paris,” Picnic PostNL DS Matt Winston says

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“I don’t have anything more to say”: Ineos stay silent on staff member’s alleged doping links – but sports director admits it was unfair Thymen Arensman forced to answer questions after Tour de France stage win

Arensman, who won Saturday’s mountaintop finish at Superbagnères, said it was “weird” the British team’s management aren’t commenting on the recent reports

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“At least we have the photo”: Julian Alaphilippe’s “idiot” victory ‘celebration’ at Tour de France – despite finishing third – due to radio breaking in crash, team confirms

“Unfortunately, the radio stopped working after my crash, so like an idiot I sprinted to try and win,” the French star, who dislocated his shoulder in the early crash, said

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Ineos Grenadiers sports director fined £4,700 for hitting fan with car during Tour de France stage

Oli Cookson was also issued a yellow card for “incorrect behaviour endangering spectators” following the incident, which took place towards the summit of the Col de Peyresourde

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Remco Evenepoel abandons Tour de France on the slopes of the Tourmalet

Third overall and best young rider when he quit, the Belgian had been losing ground since the Hautacam stage two days ago, before another day of suffering during the mountain time trial

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“They didn’t want to risk losing high-class sprinters”: Wout van Aert slams last-minute increase to mountain time trial limit that saved six riders from Tour de France exit

The likes of Biniam Girmay, Tim Merlier, and Arnaud Démare would have been disqualified with the original 33% time cut — changed to 40% nine minutes before yesterday’s stage

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“Ben taking yellow gives you belief that it’s not just a dream”: Darren Rafferty says teammate Ben Healy’s “special” stint leading Tour de France has inspired Irish cycling and “given me a real spark”

“This is the biggest race in the world and to be leading it at the halfway point is no easy feat,” the EF Education-EasyPost rider said

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“People, stop giving him sh*t!” Tadej Pogačar calls for calm after Uno-X rider left “terrified” by social media “hate” following world champion’s Tour de France crash

Tobias Halland Johannessen admitted the online reaction to the crash was “very scary”, though Pogačar later dismissed it as a “racing incident” (only for his teammate to tell the Norwegian to “keep the line!”)

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Extinction Rebellion protester disrupts Tour de France sprint finish wearing “Israel out of the Tour” shirt

After Tadej Pogačar crashed inside final 5km, the stage eleven finale descended into chaos as a protester opposing Israel-Premier Tech’s participation in the Tour ran on the road as Jonas Abrahamsen and Mauro Schmid were sprinting for victory

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“They’re trying to compete with us”: Pro Cycling Stats forced to cover up “cult icon” Tour de France roadside campervan after organisers threaten legal action

PCS’ head claimed that the organisers didn’t want them at the race because ASO was trying to “do as much stats as possible” and the cycling database’s popularity was “bothering” them

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“They do this a lot, like they’re the only ones getting bottles”: Fuming Tadej Pogačar tells Visma-Lease a Bike to “pay respect to everybody” after pushing Matteo Jorgenson in Tour de France feed zone clash

Tensions are rising between the Tour’s big two… Where’s Netflix when you need it?

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“Cycling is close to its Ayrton Senna moment”: Dan Bigham says “we will have blood on our hands if Pogačar or Van der Poel have a life-changing injury”, branding UCI gear restriction trial a distraction

The Red Bull-Bora head of engineering claims restricting gears will have no impact on race speeds, while calling for race-relevant helmet standards and real safety changes

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Knife-wielding man shot and arrested at Tour de France stage finish after suspect stabbed police officer

Prosecutor's statement says police officer uninjured "thanks to his chest protector" and the suspect was "slightly injured" having been shot in the leg and detained

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“We narrowly avoided disaster”: Police recover remaining bikes stolen from Cofidis at Tour de France, after team staff found five “dumped in woodland”

French team thanks Tour organisation and police "who did everything possible to find them", after £125,000 worth of Look bikes were stolen from a mechanics' truck during an overnight break in

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Two spectators airlifted to hospital after track cyclists crash into crowd at 60km/h during German national championships

Meeting abandoned as 12 people injured, including the two track riders who "flew over the guardrail" during race

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Molly Weaver sets new outright British circumnavigation world record, cycling entire 7,700km coastline in 21 days

Previous record beaten by 17 hours as former professional cyclist averages around 350km-a-day and climbs equivalent of eight Everests

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Thieves steal 11 Cofidis bikes worth £125,000 at the Tour de France

Value of stolen bikes estimated at around £125,000 as Look reveals King of the Mountains leader Benjamin Thomas was unable to ride a polka dot-decorated 795 Blade RS due to the theft

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Chaos as Tour de France riders crash while lunging for King of the Mountains point

Sprint for the line ends in disaster as Cofidis pro takes the single point on offer, but crashes and takes down rival in the process

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“£30 to watch adverts… absolute joke”: Cycling fans furious as TNT Sports scraps advert-free feed for Tour de France

Broadcaster inundated with complaints online as UK fans paying £30.99-a-month only given option of main feed with adverts or multi-screen without

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Cycling coverage on TNT Sports

“I’d rather not watch than pay £31 for 21 days”: Just 18% of road.cc readers to watch Tour de France on TNT Sports, as UK fans say farewell to ITV’s free-to-air coverage

After 2025 the Tour de France will be broadcast in the UK exclusively on TNT Sports, requiring a £30.99-a-month subscription and ending the summer tradition of free coverage and highlights on ITV

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UCI claims riders’ own mistakes are “most common cause” of crashes and outlines plan to trial gear ratio limit, but remains silent on controversial 40cm handlebar proposal

Visma-Lease a Bike boss was one of the few who criticised the UCI’s latest press release, which claimed rider mistakes, attributing to 29% of the reasons for crashes, as the “main contributing factor”

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“You’re playing with lives!” Visma-Lease a Bike pro “hit hard” by driver during training ride

Cian Uijtdebroeks, who was planning to make his comeback to racing at the Belgian championships this weekend, suffered no fractures in the crash but warned motorists to “pay attention to vulnerable road users”

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