{"id":311079,"date":"2025-11-27T22:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T22:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/311079\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T22:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T22:08:09","slug":"first-signings-of-the-geraint-thomas-era-ineos-grenadiers-reportedly-set-to-announce-two-of-australian-cyclings-biggest-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/311079\/","title":{"rendered":"First signings of the Geraint Thomas era? INEOS Grenadiers reportedly set to announce two of Australian cycling’s biggest names"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the links to Jack Haig have been reported elsewhere in the cycling press, with multiple outlets suggesting he is close to reaching an agreement after not being renewed by Bahrain Victorious.<\/p>\n

An Australian double move that fits Thomas\u2019 new direction<\/p>\n

Haig\u2019s situation has been bubbling for weeks following Bahrain Victorious\u2019 decision not to renew his contract. Multiple outlets have placed INEOS as the strongest candidate for the 32-year-old climber, whose experience and consistency would instantly strengthen the team\u2019s stage-race depth.<\/p>\n

For a squad redefining its GC identity and moving away from the drift of recent years, Haig\u2019s profile fits neatly into Thomas\u2019 desire for greater clarity, professionalism and rider ownership.<\/p>\n

Welsford, meanwhile, is the one case where the reporting is clear and confirmed: Scognamiglio reports that Team Jayco AlUla were deep into negotiations but failed to finalise terms, allowing INEOS to re-enter the picture and push for a deal. The Australian has emerged as one of the peloton\u2019s most powerful sprinters, and his arrival would give INEOS their first true top-end finisher since the short-lived flirtation with another Aussie \u2014 Caleb Ewan \u2014 in early 2025 before his surprise retirement.<\/p>\n

\"ewan\"\/<\/p>\n

Caleb Ewan took 2 wins in a short-lived spell at INEOS in early 2025<\/p>\n

Both potential signings match the cultural tone Thomas has already set. Speaking recently on the Watts Occurring podcast<\/a>, he made it clear that the narrative of INEOS being stuck in transition must stop. \u201cTransition\u2019s over now, mate. This is where we\u2019re going. This is what we\u2019re doing,\u201d he said, accusing the label of becoming \u201can excuse for not performing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas also emphasised simplicity, accountability and elite habits. \u201cA simple life is an elite life,\u201d he said, urging riders to eliminate the chaos that undermines performance. His pointed line \u2014 \u201cYou don\u2019t want a team of princesses, that\u2019s for sure\u201d \u2014 highlighted his impatience with over-protected or passive riders.<\/p>\n

Haig and Welsford, both known for their straightforward professionalism, fit that ethos perfectly.<\/p>\n

A clearer identity emerging for 2026<\/p>\n

If both deals go through, INEOS would be addressing two areas of need in one sweep: experienced climbing support and a world-class finisher. Welsford\u2019s arrival, in particular, would be a strategic shift after several seasons without a dedicated pure sprinter.<\/p>\n

Combined with Thomas\u2019 arrival as Director of Racing \u2014 and his repeated insistence that excuses are no longer acceptable \u2014 these signings would represent the first real sign that the Grenadiers\u2019 reset is moving from rhetoric to reality.<\/p>\n

With several roster questions still unresolved, including the Derek Gee situation, INEOS\u2019 2026 puzzle is far from complete. But the Australian pairing would be a decisive start.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Meanwhile, the links to Jack Haig have been reported elsewhere in the cycling press, with multiple outlets…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":311080,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,16057,59639,35174,138968,82,131890],"class_list":["post-311079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-geraint-thomas","tag-ineos-grenadiers","tag-jack-haig","tag-sam-welsford","tag-sports","tag-transfers-negotiations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}