Imperious Grenadiers Steal A March On Rivals

Ineos in fine form at Tour de la Provence, with GC and stage wins

- James Shrubsall

Ineos Grenadiers put on an early demonstration of intent as the European season got underway in earnest last weekend, with Ivan Sosa winning the GC at the Tour de la Provence, as well as the Mont Ventoux stage.

Sosa called it “a really beautiful way to start the season. It helps with the motivation to work hard for the rest of the year.”

Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour de France winner, also showed his mettle in the French race, which was the first UCI .Pro event of the season. He was second on the Ventoux behind his team-mate and third on GC despite being forced to concede that his back issues that came to light last year still remain, and that he expects to have to deal with them throughout the season. “My back didn’t hurt very much on Saturday, but I still feel it a bit,” Bernal said after the race. “That will not just go away and I will have to deal with it this season.”

Rainbow chaser

The Ineos pair were separated by the rainbow bands of Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step), who was in typically ebullient form with some spirited riding across the event.