Carlos Rodríguez has signed a contract extension with Ineos Grenadiers that will keep him with the team until the end of the 2027 season.
The Spaniard had previously looked poised to leave Ineos for Movistar after he signed a pre-contract with the team ahead of the Tour de France. Rodríguez would win a stage and place fifth overall at his debut Tour, while Ineos redoubled their efforts to retain his services in 2024 and beyond.
Speaking to TVE during the Vuelta a España, Movistar manager Eusebio Unzue conceded that the Rodríguez transfer was unlikely to go through and the formal confirmation arrived with Ineos’ statement on Tuesday morning.
“We are thrilled to have Carlos extend his contract as a Grenadier until 2027,” said Ineos team manager Rod Ellingworth. “He has shown remarkable growth and dedication during his time with us, and it’s been really rewarding for us to play a part in that.”
Rodríguez joined Ineos directly out of the junior ranks in 2020 and he began to showcase his ability at the highest level in 2022, when he won a stage of Itzulia Basque Country and landed the Spanish national title.
Later that year, Rodríguez placed 7th overall at his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España and he finished the season with a fine 5th place at Il Lombardia.
Rodríguez’s 2023 season was interrupted by a broken collarbone at Strade Bianche, but he returned to action in time to lead Ineos’ overall challenge at the Tour de France. The 22-year-old scored a stage victory in Morzine and spent much of the race in contention for a podium spot, eventually finishing fifth overall despite a crash on the penultimate day.
“Since I was a boy, I wanted to race the Tour de France; watching the race on TV I looked up to Team Sky hoping that one day I might be a part of this team,” Rodríguez said. “It was so special this year to race the Tour, for the first time, with the team I had always dreamt of being with - I find it hard to describe just how incredible that felt.”
Ineos have been repeatedly linked with a move for Remco Evenepoel over the past twelve months, but as things stand, Rodríguez looks set for a leadership role again at next year’s Tour, with 2019 winner Egan Bernal still finding his way back after the horrific injuries he suffered in a training crash at the start of 2022.
“We believe he will play a significant role in the team’s future over the coming years,” said Ellingworth. “He’s truly world-class.”
Rodríguez’s is the second contract extension announced by Ineos in as many days after the British team confirmed on Monday that Geraint Thomas would remain a rider for the next two seasons.
