S13 Ep112: Elvis Pedersen and Do Ineos Grenadiers Need To Be All Shook Up?

Aug 15, 2025

Join cycling expert Brian Nygaard, known for his sharp insights on Danish cycling, and Australian journalist Sophie Smith, who covers events like the Arctic Race of Norway. They delve into the challenges faced by Team Ineos Grenadiers and ponder their decline from dominance. The conversation shifts to rising young talents and the team’s need for a new identity. Sophie shares vivid tales from the Arctic Race, capturing the unique atmosphere and surprises of the event, blending competition with celebration.

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INSIGHT

UAE's Stage-Race Dominance

UAE Team Emirates dominate the World Tour with multiple stage-race victories this season.
Lionel Birnie highlights their depth and how McNulty's time-trial sealed Tour of Poland overall win.

ANECDOTE

Pedersen's Elvis Moment

Brian Nygaard described the Tour of Denmark start with Mads Pedersen attacking early and winning the first stage.
He compared Pedersen's look to Elvis Presley and noted the race still had a queen stage left.

INSIGHT

Ineos Lacks Clear Purpose

Ineos Grenadiers have lost clarity of purpose and lag behind teams like UAE and Visma in talent planning.
Lionel Birnie argues they need purposeful recruitment and a rebuilt identity to challenge for Grand Tours again.

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In this bumper episode of The Cycling Podcast, Lionel Birnie, Graham Willgoss and Brian Nygaard ask where Ineos Grenadiers go from here?

Thymen Arensman saved a disappointing Tour de France with two memorable stage wins in the mountains, but Carlos Rodriguez crashed out when his bid for a high finish looked like it had stalled on the cusp of the top ten.

With Dave Brailsford returning to the Tour after a stint at Manchester United Football Club it became apparent just how far the team has drifted since the days when they dominated the race, winning seven editions in eight years between 2012 and 2019.

Geraint Thomas is approaching retirement as a rider but could he be the man to galvanise the team off the bike? Or is it simply a case that Ineos have been overtaken by a handful of teams who have been quicker at identifying and recruiting new talent and more ruthless in calling time on riders who've gone over the summit in their careers?

Before that, Lionel, Graham and Brian recap the week's racing as the cycling season splinters across Europe in this period between the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. And in the final part we hear from journalist Sophie Smith about her trip to the north of Norway to cover the Arctic Race.

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.