Ineos Grenadiers’ head coach Xabier Artetxe has officially announced his departure from the team, marking the end of a decade-long coaching career at the renowned cycling squad. Artetxe confirmed the news in a heartfelt LinkedIn post, thanking the cyclists he has worked with over the years and sharing his plans for the future.
Artetxe, who joined Ineos in 2018, had a significant impact on the careers of top riders like Egan Bernal and Carlos Rodríguez. His coaching was instrumental in Bernal’s victories at the 2019 Tour de France and the 2021 Giro d’Italia. Additionally, Artetxe played a crucial role in aiding Bernal’s recovery following a serious crash during training in 2022. Before his recent collarbone injury at the Clásica Jaén in Spain, Bernal had publicly credited Artetxe and Ineos soigneur Cristian Alonso for their support during his rehabilitation process.
The announcement of Artetxe’s exit comes after rumors about his departure circulated towards the end of the 2024 season, coinciding with the exit of Ineos staff member Steve Cummings. In his LinkedIn post, Artetxe reflected on his time with the team, expressing gratitude to key figures such as Sir Dave Brailsford, Rod Ellingworth, Tim Kerrison, and Fran Millar for providing him with the opportunity to join Team Sky in 2014. He credited their trust with helping him achieve both personal and professional growth.
“This chapter is coming to an end after years of hard work, success, and some failures,” Artetxe wrote. “The team has won five Tour de France titles, three Giro d’Italia titles, one Vuelta a España, numerous ‘Monuments,’ as well as World Championships and Olympic medals in various disciplines. These ten years have been unforgettable.”
Artetxe also reminisced about working with riders like Richard Carapaz, who transitioned to EF Education-EasyPost, and mentioned Carapaz’s Olympic road race win as one of the standout moments of his coaching career.
Looking ahead, Artetxe expressed his excitement for new opportunities and challenges. “It’s time to change goals and embrace new projects that will push me beyond my comfort zone,” he stated. “I’m not leaving cycling behind. This sport has always been, and will always be, my passion.”
Artetxe’s departure follows a series of staffing changes at Ineos Grenadiers. In addition to Artetxe, Dan Bigham left the team last September to become Head of Engineering at Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe. These changes are part of a broader review conducted by Ineos performance director Dr. Scott Drawer.
Despite the staff shakeups, Ineos has had a strong start to the 2025 season, with Josh Tarling winning the individual time trial at the UAE Tour and Michał Kwiatkowski securing the team’s first professional victory in over six months at the Clásica Jaén.
The team is also reportedly seeking a second sponsor to bolster its efforts in returning to the top tier of professional cycling. Ineos Grenadiers declined to comment on Artetxe’s departure.
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