Axel Laurance targets success with the INEOS Grenadiers

Axel Laurance, the reigning under-23 road race World Champion, has agreed a two-year deal with the INEOS Grenadiers.

The talented 23-year-old from Brittany has already racked up a string of hugely impressive results, including the World Championships title in Scotland last year, firmly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young riders in the peloton.

The 2024 season has seen him take overall victory at the Tour of Norway, including a win on stage two, as well as winning stages at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and at Etoile de Besseges.

The young French racer also secured an impressive second place at the Bretagne Classic-Ouest-France in a high-class field in 2022 and a stage win at the Cro Race in the same year.

Axel Laurance, said: “I'm thrilled to be joining the INEOS Grenadiers, which is going to be a hugely exciting step in my career.

“I’ve always admired the Team and it’s the best fit for me and my ambitions for the future. The Grenadiers have a rich history and I want to add to that; I’m here to win races and to get results.

“In all our discussions I’ve been very impressed with the set-up. The plans they have in place for the future and the expertise involved mean that it’s an exciting place to be.

“I believe that I’ll quickly find my feet and together we can achieve both my personal dreams and realise those of the Grenadiers. I can’t wait to get started.”

Scott Drawer, Performance Director, said: “In his short pro career to date, Axel has shown that he is a winner.

“He has already achieved some impressive results and the way he won his world title last year made everyone sit up and really take notice. He’s then carried that form into 2024 and recently completed his first Tour de France, so he’s taken some big strides in a short period of time.

“Axel’s a rider who really thinks deeply about his own performance and understands the importance of the right environment to bring out the best in him. He wants to know more about the right fuelling and approaches to sleep. He understands how his body responds to various forms of training and is keen to explore new ways to develop so he can meet the demands of some of the hardest races. He is self-aware, reflective and asks really good questions about how to get better.

“Axel reflects the modern bike rider - he is hungry, motivated and curious. Most importantly he is a winner, and we can’t wait to see him grow and play a role shaping the future of this team.”