The INEOS Grenadiers no longer have the dominance they had during the Team Sky era. The absolute leader is missing from the team. And Remco Evenepoel would be the most likely option to fill that gap in the team.
Renowned Dutch journalist Thijs Zonneveld has a controversial opinion on this in the In het Wiel podcast. “They don’t have a guy who can compete with those few alien riders from Jumbo-Visma. Pidcock is the closest to that, but he’s not at that level yet. Their Mbappé is called Remco Evenepoel. I wonder if it will happen, but it seems clear to me that there has been talk.”
The analyst likes to debate the rumors about Evenepoel going to the INEOS Grenadiers. “We always look at it from Evenepoel’s point of view. He would have a better chance of winning a grand tour at INEOS. Quick-Step is by no means bad, but he would be better surrounded by INEOS. Little attention is given to INEOS’s perspective. The team needs Evenepoel more than the other way around.”
Plenty of money available
“There is a very wealthy owner behind it (Jim Ratcliffe). Who buys what he wants. Only the highest is high enough. When he hears how much Evenepoel costs… That man negotiates salaries in football. He laughs at Evenepoel’s salary. Money shouldn’t be the problem.”
“Although it’s tough against Pogacar and so many Jumbos. Only INEOS has an even bigger problem because they don’t have a possible Grand Tour winner in the team. Maybe with Rodríguez in the more distant future. Arensman, it seems more likely to me that he’s a podium candidate.”