Steve Cummings has moved past a tumultuous period, both professionally and personally. With his beloved Liverpool FC atop the Premier League, Cummings now embarks on a fresh chapter as a sports director with WorldTour team Jayco-AlUla, following a controversial departure from Ineos Grenadiers.
The British sports director’s final race with Ineos was the Critérium du Dauphiné in June. His unexpected absence from the subsequent Tour de France raised eyebrows, with speculation linking it to a strained relationship with team leader Tom Pidcock. Reports suggested that Pidcock had expressed he felt the team might perform better without Cummings. However, Cummings, speaking at his new team’s media day last Monday, downplayed the rumors.
“On a personal level, I never had a problem [with him] and haven’t got one,” Cummings told Cycling Weekly. “It’s quite surprising, all the stuff that was written. It’s all smoke really. What was on Netflix, that was it. There was never anything else.”
Cummings referred to a scene in Tour de France: Unchained, the documentary series that showed him telling Pidcock he would need to support Carlos Rodríguez. The moment appeared tense, with Cummings questioning Pidcock’s commitment to the team’s strategy before requesting the cameras be turned off.
“The team decided to take me off the race. Like when you’re not selected as a rider, it’s just a decision you respect,” Cummings explained. “I guess they thought it was in the best interest of the team. And then you start to look elsewhere.”
His comments marked the first time Cummings publicly addressed his exit from Ineos since he announced on LinkedIn in November that he would step away from the team. According to Cummings, the team never provided a clear explanation for his removal from the Tour de France, a decision he found frustrating at times. “There are obviously moments when it’s frustrating, but you just try to be resilient, accept it and move on,” he said.
While Ineos downplayed Cummings’ absence after the Tour, suggesting it was part of preparations for the new season, Cummings initially believed he would continue with the team. “I just thought I’d continue with the team. It wasn’t until sort of October that I decided it was better to change,” he shared.
Cummings’ exit concluded a four-year tenure with Ineos, which began in 2021 when he joined as a development sports director. He quickly ascended to lead the team during the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France campaigns. Reflecting on his time with Ineos, Cummings expressed pride in the team’s achievements. “G [Geraint Thomas] did third behind Vingegaard and Pogačar, Tom Pidcock won a stage on Alpe d’Huez, which was probably the most beautiful stage win of the Tour. Then the next year, the team won two stages, and Carlos [Rodríguez] was fifth, fighting for the podium until the last days when he crashed. That was phenomenal in his first Tour,” Cummings recalled. “I’m just grateful to all the riders, staff, and everyone who helped us achieve that. In my opinion, with all the information I had, we maximized the team.”
After leaving Ineos, Cummings found a new opportunity with Jayco-AlUla, where he will work alongside Matt White, the team’s director of high performance and racing. Cummings and White have known each other since their days as teammates on the Discovery Channel squad in 2007. Their personal connection led to a job offer, and Cummings is eager to join the Australian-based team.
At Jayco-AlUla, Cummings will work with several riders he is familiar with, including former Ineos rider Luke Plapp and team leader Ben O’Connor, who impressed in 2024 with a second-place finish at the Vuelta a España and a fourth-place finish at the Giro d’Italia. Cummings is excited about the opportunity to work with O’Connor, calling him “arguably, outside of grand tour winners, the next best stage race rider consistently across the season.”
Looking forward to the future, Cummings is eager to make an impact at Jayco-AlUla, much like his former team, Liverpool FC, under new manager Arne Slot. Having had time to recharge and reflect, he is now ready to return to the sport he loves. “I’ve had a lot of time at home with the family, time to reflect and recharge. Now I’m ready and excited to get going again,” he said.
As he begins his new role, Cummings is determined to make the most of his next challenge, bringing his wealth of experience to a new team, while leaving the past behind.
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