The project had been in the pipeline for several months, and it is now official. INEOS Grenadiers, one of the leading teams in the professional peloton, have confirmed the launch of their development squad ahead of the 2026 season. The inaugural intake will consist of twelve riders, five of whom are British, with one striking feature immediately standing out: the sheer diversity of profiles. Track specialists sit alongside former mountain bikers, experienced Continental riders line up next to juniors still learning their trade, and one of them has already enjoyed a brief spell as a world record holder.
Among the five British riders, the most recognisable name is undoubtedly Josh Charlton, who perfectly embodies INEOS Grenadiers’ desire to recruit complete and contrasting profiles. At just 22 years of age, Charlton has already experienced something most riders never will: a moment of sporting history. His short-lived world record in the individual pursuit, achieved by breaking the mythical four-minute barrier over 4km at his first elite World Championships, was not only an outstanding performance on the stopwatch, but a demonstration of his ability to deliver on the biggest stage despite his relative inexperience.
His move into the Racing Academy represents a carefully managed transition towards road racing, where his endurance-based engine, ability to absorb heavy workloads and repeat high-intensity efforts could prove invaluable on demanding terrain and stage races. Much like compatriot Josh Tarling, now firmly established with the Grenadiers, Charlton symbolises the increasingly common bridge between track and road — particularly within British cycling, where the velodrome has long been a proven pathway to the highest level.
Alongside him, Max Hinds offers another glimpse into the depth of emerging British talent. Still only 18, he has already shown an ability to perform across a wide range of disciplines. Fourth in the junior road race and fifth in the time trial at the Junior World Championships in Rwanda, as well as a double medallist at the Junior Track World Championships, Hinds displays a level of versatility rarely seen at such a young age. Comfortable in a fast-moving international peloton, capable of producing a strong solo effort against the clock and already proven on the track, he fits the modern rider profile increasingly sought by INEOS and the wider peloton: adaptable, well-rounded and with significant room for development.
Mattie Dodd, 21, brings a different kind of maturity to the British contingent. Having spent recent seasons with Austrian outfit Tirol KTM, he has been shaped by the often unforgiving realities of Continental racing, where tactical awareness, commitment to the collective and the ability to read a race are essential. Less visible in the media spotlight than some of his peers, Dodd nonetheless represents a highly valuable profile: dependable, intelligent and capable of fulfilling a variety of roles depending on race circumstances. His inclusion underlines INEOS Grenadiers’ intention not to focus solely on early bloomers, but also on riders who have learned to be patient, to work for others and to progress quietly in the background.
At 18, Dylan Sage fits into a more romantic strand of British cycling history. A product of the Maindy Flyers club in Cardiff, he inevitably evokes comparisons with Geraint Thomas himself — now Director of Racing at INEOS Grenadiers — who emerged from the same environment. Fifth at Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne Juniors, Sage is very much a racer: comfortable in fast, attritional events where positioning, instinct and race sense matter just as much as physical condition.
Completing the British quintet is Max Standen, also 18, whose background adds yet another layer of variety. Coming from mountain biking, he brings raw power, advanced bike-handling skills and an ability to cope with rough, technical terrain — attributes that can translate effectively to road racing and the classics in particular. The transition from MTB to the road is demanding, but INEOS have already demonstrated their capacity to manage such pathways in the past, most notably with Tom Pidcock, one of Britain’s leading riders, who raced for the team between 2021 and 2024.
Beyond this British core, the INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy is built around an international selection designed to strengthen the collective. Frenchman Hugo Boucher, solid in junior classics and a top-ten finisher at Liège–Bastogne–Liège Juniors, brings the profile of a promising punchy climber. Italian teenager Davide Frigo, younger brother of Marco, represents the tradition of versatile Italian riders comfortable on rolling terrain, while compatriot Nicolas Milesi arrives with valuable Continental experience after spells with Arkéa–B&B Hotels and strong performances in stage racing.
Australia is also well represented, with Fletcher Medway, a former triathlete continuing a rapid rise, and Cameron Rogers, winner of a prologue at the Tour of Austria and nephew of former world time trial champion Michael Rogers. Finally, Eritrean sprinter Milkias Maekele, developed through the UCI African Cycling Centre, and Dane Theodor Storm complete a twelve-man roster that reflects INEOS Grenadiers’ ambition to build not just winners, but well-rounded professionals for the future.
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