New staff and performance structure changes announced

The INEOS Grenadiers have announced structure and staff changes following a thorough review of the team’s performance operations. The changes will build on the strong foundations and team already in place and support the objective to win the biggest races in cycling.

Dr. Scott Drawer, the Grenadiers’ Performance Director, who joined the team in the spring of 2024, has spent six months reviewing the performance environment both on and off race.

The new structure will focus on three distinct performance streams – Grand Tours and Stage Racing, Classics and One Day Racing, and Future Talent. There will be a renewed focus on specialist coaching in time trials, sprint and power development, endurance training science, race strategy, aerodynamics and technology development.

The approach has been informed and influenced by other disciplines including track cycling and endurance sports including cross country skiing, triathlon and endurance running to apply emerging practices in training and competition science.

New staff for the 2025 season will include:

Kurt Asle Arvesen - The Norwegian former pro, who raced and started his coaching career with Team Sky, is returning to the team as a lead Sport Director.

Leonardo Basso - The Italian pro cyclist retired in 2023 having ridden for the team between 2018 and 2021. After spending time with the team this season as a Sport Director in a freelance capacity, he will now join in a permanent role.

Tom Helleman - The highly regarded sports scientist and coach who has been working with Team DSM-firmenich for the 2024 season will join the team as Lead Performance Coach.

Dr. Mehdi Kordi - The British track and sprint specialist led the Dutch national team to multiple Gold medal success in the Paris Olympics and helped them become a leading nation on the track. He will be joining the Grenadiers as Head of Performance Support and Innovation.

Dr. Luca Oggiano, a world-leading expert on aerodynamics, who has been working with the team for the past decade including Filippo Ganna’s successful hour record, takes on the role of Director of Research and Development and will continue to work closely with the team’s technical partners.

The team will also be appointing a new Head of Engineering and Technology, along with further additional staff that will be announced before the start of the 2025 season.

Scott Drawer, Performance Director, said: “I’ve spent six months listening, observing, and working with the team to determine what's needed to set ourselves up for excellence for 2025 and beyond. I’ve been looking at every element of how we race, how we train and how we support our riders in the changing landscape of professional cycling.

“We have a highly motivated, hungry and ambitious team of coaches, sport directors and performance specialists who want to create an environment that allows our riders to fulfil their potential. That collective energy and desire will set us up for the challenges and opportunities that await in 2025.

“We are going to spend the rest of this year making further positive changes: setting the team’s performance plans and goals, executing some key training camps and getting the whole team ready to race hard in January. We want to set the right tone from the start and will be working closely with our riders to establish the culture which will facilitate success and be fundamental to our future.”

John Allert, CEO, said: “Scott has conducted a thorough review of every element of performance with his trademark energy and focus. He has come up with a clear plan and the decisive changes needed to set us up for success in the coming years.

“This is a team with a proud legacy of success, and we are all determined to get back to the top step of the podium. Our new performance structure and approach are key to building the next chapter for the team.”