As much as Ineos Grenadiers have struggled in recent years, especially relative to the former highs of their glory days, they’ve always had Filippo Ganna to rely upon. As one of the leading couple of specialists against the clock throughout the 2020s, he provides a reliable source of results; and as the team’s fortunes have waned, the Italian has been increasingly relied upon to bail them out.
When all of the team’s multiple GC options fell apart at the 2023 Vuelta a España, resulting in their worst GC result in history, Ganna committed to saving their race by chasing stage wins, and eventually coming up trumps at the time trial; While Geraint Thomas was finishing a distant third-place behind Tadej Pogačar at last year’s Giro d’Italia, he was there to win the time trial stage at Lake Garda; and though he didn’t quite manage to land a win, Ganna expanded his remit in the Classics by being the team’s star of the spring, claiming podium finishes at both Milan-Sanremo and E3 Saxo Classic.
Today Ganna was back in his most familiar territory of the time trial, and delivered yet another stage win for Ineos — his eighth against the clock at Grand Tour level. Calling upon all the experience that has seen him triumph at so many stages over the years, he paced his efforts perfectly, speeding up in the final section of the route to power away with the fastest time. Despite the course only being 12.2km, only Jay Vine managed to come within seven seconds of his time — finishing less than a second behind the Italian — everyone else left for dust.
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It was another great win for Ineos, but, unlike many of Ganna’s recent successes, comes as an addition to previous wins rather than as a result to redeem them. Even before this stage, Ineos’ race had been a success, with two stage wins in the bag already. First Ben Turner was the unlikely victor at the stage four sprint finish, getting the better of Jasper Philipsen no less to bag the team’s first win. Then just two days ago Egan Bernal claimed one of the most emotional victories in the team’s history, completing his stunning comeback from his near-death experience in 2022 to performing back at the highest level.
Bernal’s win has epitomised the new approach Ineos have adopted this year. Having determined that they lack the kind of talent to compete with the very best for the top honours at Grand Tours, they’ve shifted their outlook away from the more conservative racing for high GC placings towards the more aggressive, anarchic pursuit of stage wins. In the past, they might have focussed on helping Bernal seal as high a place on GC as possible, but prior to his stage win in Galicia he had already conceded enough time to allow himself to chase breakaways - which was how he gained that stage win.
The approach paid off handsomely; even though the change of finish line meant he didn’t get to celebrate the win crossing in front of the cameras and spectators at the finish line, it was still a much more emotional, powerful moment than anything during his impressive yet quiet performance to finish seventh overall at the Giro d’Italia earlier this year produced.
While this more aggressive approach has been notable for some time now, what’s felt new at this Vuelta is an infectious sense of team camaraderie, with a real feeling that the riders are enjoying racing with and for each other. So much was apparent from Turner’s victory on stage four. The Brit capitalised on a brilliant, committed lead out from Michał Kwiatkowski, a rider who has long been among the most selfless in the peloton, spending much of his career as a super-domestique despite being one of the most talented. Whereas in the past he mostly worked as a climber, to set up hot favourites like Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas up for victories, this time it was in service of much more of a longshot. Yet the result was just as successful, with Turner making the most of the faith put in him to take the stage win.
Kwiatkowski has also played a role behind the scenes. It was he who tweeted about the team’s internal wager for riders to shave their heads whenever a stage win, which has sparked much attention from both fans and the media. First Brandon Rivera was subjected to the razor after Turner’s win, then Kwiatkowski himself following Bernal’s success.
Clearly the roster aren’t too follicularly anxious, as the stakes haven’t stopped the wins from coming; far from it, in fact, with Ganna’s today being their second in three days. Such publicity stunts and fun and games would have clashed incongruously against the team’s more dour image of the past, when they were robotic, Grand Tour winning machines, very successful, but not much-loved. And it also seems to be helping the team win more, with success breeding yet more success.
Their total of three stage wins from this Vuelta is bettered only by UAE Team Emirates XRG’s seven, and the mood in both those camps could hardly be more different. Whereas UAE are blighted by tension, with riders riding as individuals and a sense of frustration and betrayal from GC leader João Almeida that they’re not doing all they can do unite behind his red jersey bid, Ineos are exceeding expectations, and revelling in each other’s success. It’s a strange thing to say about such a well-funded team with so much past decorations, but they’re riding as underdogs - and flourishing as such.
It’s unclear which rider will draw the short straw and become the latest rider to have their head shaved following Ganna’s win; for fans of impressive manes, we can only hope it isn’t Ganna himself. But whoever it is will surely do so in good spirits; and the way things are going at the Vuelta for Ineos, might not be the last to do so before the race is up.
