Ineos Grenadiers' new strategic approach pays dividends at Étoile de Bessèges

LA CALMETTE FRANCE FEBRUARY 04 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez of Colombia and Team INEOS Grenadiers Geraint Thomas of United Kingdom and Team INEOS Grenadiers Salvatore Puccio of Italy and Team INEOS Grenadiers during the 51st toile de Bessges Tour du Gard 2021 Stage 2 a 154km stage from SaintGenis to La Calmette EDB2020 on February 04 2021 in La Calmette France Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Ineos Grenadiers at the Étoile de Bessèges this week (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Earlier this week, Ineos Grenadiers boss Dave Brailsford explained that his team would be committed to "a more racing style" going forward, embracing a strategic approach intended to "rekindle everything about the joy of racing" as the squad announced their 2021 Grand Tour plans.

Over the course of the week, Ineos' performance at the Étoile de Bessèges has highlighted this new style, and particularly the two toughest road stages on days three and four, the second of those culminating with Filippo Ganna's storming solo ride to victory.

Peter Cossins has written about professional cycling since 1993 and is a contributing editor to Procycling. He is the author of The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races (Bloomsbury, March 2014) and has translated Christophe Bassons' autobiography, A Clean Break (Bloomsbury, July 2014). 

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