Robbie McEwen has praised Ineos Grenadiers’ impressive start to the 2025 season, attributing their success to a “fresh mentality” that has already delivered positive results.
After enduring their toughest season to date, the team has made a strong return, securing four victories in the opening races of the year.
Michał Kwiatkowski gave the team its first professional win in 226 days, triumphing at the Clásica Jaén last week. This was followed by Josh Tarling’s victory in the time trial at the UAE Tour, marking Ineos’ first WorldTour win in 254 days. Egan Bernal also contributed to the team’s success with wins in both the time trial and road race at the Colombian National Championships.
Filippo Ganna appeared set to add to Ineos’ tally on stage one of the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal, but the stage was cancelled under unusual circumstances.
On Thursday, TNT Sports expert McEwen expressed confidence in Ineos’ continued strong form and suggested that the influence of veteran riders has played a key role in their revitalized approach.
“I think it’s the riders themselves who have brought about the turnaround,” McEwen explained. “They’ve taken much more ownership of their roles within the team. Previously, everything was very structured, with clear instructions and a formula to follow. Now, it looks like they’re simply racing their bikes, not overthinking or waiting for instructions over the race radio. I think they were bogged down by the rigid planning, and now they’re racing with their hearts again—throwing themselves into races and enjoying it.”
McEwen credited senior riders like Kwiatkowski and Geraint Thomas for leading the shift in attitude. “It feels like a fresh mentality, and I think that’s driving the team forward,” he added. “I’m liking what I’m seeing.”
Ineos has also signed Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan from Jayco AIUla, signaling a potential shift in the team’s identity toward focusing more on sprint stages in Grand Tours. Historically, Ineos has been known for its emphasis on General Classification (GC) contenders in major races.
Although Ewan has not won a WorldTour race since 2022, McEwen is optimistic about the sprinter’s future with the team. “The key is that Caleb feels confident and welcomed into the team,” McEwen said. “Ineos has the support structure to help him succeed. He just needs to find a couple of teammates he can gel with, and with some early success, that confidence will build.”
McEwen acknowledged that Ewan’s recent lack of race time might present challenges, but he is willing to give him a couple of months to find his form. “It would be great to see an Ineos jersey back in the mix in the bunch sprints again,” McEwen concluded.
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