Ineos Grenadiers asked about availability of UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar during the summer according to his agent
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Updated 27/09/2023 at 15:39 GMT
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Grenadiers have reportedly been making enquiries to sign a new General Classification rider, having made an approach to sign Tadej Pogacar earlier this year. The UAE Team Emirates rider is contracted to his current side until 2027, but his agent has confirmed that the Grenadiers came knocking between the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana to ask about his situation.
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Tadej Pogacar’s agent has revealed that Ineos Grenadiers had reportedly showed an interest in signing the UAE Team Emirates rider earlier this year.
The Slovenian cyclist is under contract with UAE until 2027 after turning pro with the side back in 2019, before going on to win three stages of the Vuelta a Espana and win the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021.
The Grenadiers, meanwhile, are on the look out for a new General Classification leader, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s side eyeing up their first Tour de France victory since 2019.
Several riders within the team, including Geraint Thomas, Laurens De Plus, Omar Fraile, Luke Rowe, Ben Swift and Jonathan Castroviejo will also be out of contract at the end of 2023.
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But according to Global Cycling Network (GCN), the British team have tried to entice superstar Remco Evenepoel to join them, but to no avail, with the side now targeting Pogacar, according to his agent Alex Careera.
Speaking to GCN, Carera stated that the Grenadiers had inquired about the 25-year-old’s situation with UAE and had made their approaches in between the Tour de France and the Vuelta.
“For sure they are interested in Tadej but at this time he is under contract with UAE until 2027,” Carera said. “If Ineos are interested in him before that date then they need to talk to UAE Team Emirates.
“For sure they’re interested if he’s not under contract because Ineos’ goal is to be one of the best teams in the world. If you want to be the best then you need the best riders. If they are interested in Tadej they must find a deal with UAE first of all.
“In the last few months I can confirm that Ineos asked me if Tadej was free or not. But I told them he is under contract.”
Pogacar has enjoyed a successful 2023 season so far, getting off to a flying start with a win at the Jaen Paraiso Interior, before winning the Vuelta a Andalucia and the Paris-Nice.
His excellent vein of form continued, with victories at the Tour of Flanders and the Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallone all in April.
A crash at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege saw him suffer a broken wrist, but the rider saw the silver lining in the injury, enabling him to rest before bouncing back before the Tour de France, winning two stages before coming second overall in the general classification, with Jonas Vingegaard coming top.
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