‘Creating conditions to win Tour de France’ – INEOS Grenadiers form partnership with technology giants Netcompany, name & colours to change for Giro
By Tom Masters
Updated 28/04/2026 at 12:41 GMT+1
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INEOS have formed a new partnership with technology giants Netcompany, and have set the goal of winning the Tour de France.
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The deal sees the team officially change name to Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team.
There will be new kit and colours for the start of the Giro d’Italia, which can be watched exclusively on TNT Sports and HBO Max, beginning on May 8.
INEOS and Netcompany are looking to use AI platform PULSE, which is used at Heathrow Airport, with a view to redesigning the future of performance optimisation.
That is at the heart of the deal, which Netcompany INEOS team principal and director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford says is all about creating the foundations to win the Tour de France - seven years after their last win.
He said: ”This is one of the most significant partnerships in cycling - a real vote of confidence not only in our team, but in the sport itself. It’s a major moment for us and marks the beginning of a new chapter.
”Our sport is a human endeavour, where decisions in training, racing and recovery make the difference every day.
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”We have no shortage of data - the real challenge is turning it into simple, practical actions and delivering them consistently.
”With Netcompany, we can do that better. PULSE allows us to orchestrate our data into clear insights that support faster, better decisions when it matters most.
”This is more than a sponsorship; it’s a partnership with purpose. It brings long-term stability, giving us the platform to invest in performance over time - building the foundations to win, and keep winning.
”Ultimately, it’s about creating the conditions to win the Tour de France.”
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The partnership comes with significant financial backing, too, increasing their annual budget to try to keep up with the likes of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, for whom Tadej Pogacar rides.
Netcompany INEOS - or their precursors - were once the dominant force in the sport, winning seven Tours de France between 2012 and 2019, as well as two Giros d’Italia and two Vueltas a Espana.
INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe was pleased with the deal, saying: ”I’m really pleased to welcome Netcompany to the cycling team, establishing a new long-term partnership that will help create the right conditions to deliver more success.
”This collaboration brings additional resource, technology and capability across performance and operations to give the team the ability to compete consistently at the highest level of the sport.”
Meanwhile, 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who is now the director of racing at Netcompany INEOS, believes the new partnership can make a real difference across the team.
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Sir Dave Brailsford said the goal of the partnership was to win the Tour de France.
Image credit: Getty Images
He said: ”I’ve seen first-hand how much the sport has evolved. But what hasn’t changed is the importance of doing all the basics well and paying attention to the tiny details - that’s what ultimately leads to success on the road.
”Netcompany’s PULSE AI platform will help with that across every part of the team. It gives us confidence in the systems and in the quality of the data and information we’re working from in real time, so everyone is aligned and working off the same hymn sheet.
”From my side, it’s about creating an environment where riders can focus fully on racing, while the team around them is connected and making the best possible decisions - If we get that balance right, it will make a real difference when it counts.”
Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season - including the Tour de France - on TNT Sports and HBO Max
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