INEOS Grenadiers’ transfer activity has reportedly ground to a halt, with Sir Dave Brailsford now overseeing all negotiations following his return to the team earlier this summer. A Daniel Benson report now suggests the team has paused recruitment while Brailsford reassesses its direction.It’s a surprising shift, given the flurry of rumours throughout the year. The likes of Kevin Vauquelin and Sam Welsford were believed to be done deals, while Filippo Zana was reportedly set to join on a near-€1 million contract. Talks also linked Frenchmen Benoît Cosnefroy and Dorian Godon to the British squad. Now, all has gone quiet.
“Apparently, all contracts are on hold at INEOS with Dave coming back?!” one source told Daniel Benson. Others have echoed the sentiment. In Zana’s case, his camp is said to have reopened talks with Team Jayco AlUla, concerned that the INEOS deal is off.
From Momentum to Standstill
The team was also expected to launch a new U23 development squad for 2026 — another initiative that has gone unannounced. It mirrors a wider quiet period across the peloton, with teams like UAE Team Emirates – XRG, Lidl-Trek, and Team Visma | Lease a Bike also yet to reveal major moves. But the pause at INEOS seems more deliberate.
Brailsford’s return has not been passive. He played a direct role in shaping the team’s Tour de France selection and, according to team manager John Allert, is fully re-engaged. “He’s like a kid in a sweet shop talking about climbs and getting back to the mountains,” Allert told Cycling News before the Tour. “We’ve welcomed him back with open arms. He’s our not-so-secret weapon.”
That weapon now appears aimed at retooling the squad. Once the dominant force in World Tour racing, INEOS have slipped behind UAE and Visma in both results and recruitment. Budgets continue to rise, but success is no longer purely a financial arms race. “We’re a super team that needs to win more,” Allert said. “It’s not just about money — it’s about competence, strategy, and hard work.”
Brailsford is back in charge at INEOS
Strategic Reset — or a Sign of Instability?
Whether this is a short-term strategic pause or evidence of deeper uncertainty is unclear. Brailsford may simply be recalibrating before committing to long-term contracts. Equally, the delay could reflect unresolved questions about how INEOS regains its edge in a shifting landscape.
With the Vuelta and late-season transfer moves still to come, there’s time for INEOS to make their mark. But for now, the team once known for ruthless precision appears to be in holding mode—waiting for Brailsford to chart the next chapter.