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Pete Trifunovic

'Maybe three years ago, I didn't want to go, now I'm excited' – How Ineos Grenadiers and Dorian Godon became the perfect match

LEGNANO, ITALY - OCTOBER 06: Dorian Godon of France and Team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale celebrates at podium as race winner during the 106th Coppa Bernocchi 2025 a 191.6km one day race from Legnano to Legnano on October 06, 2025 in Legnano, Italy. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

It would come as little surprise to learn that French riders make up a large chunk of WorldTour rosters, past and present. Yet, for all the success throughout their 15-year history, Ineos Grenadiers are a team that has had very little Les Bleus representation. Just five Frenchmen have represented the British squad since its 2010 launch.

Nicolas Portal, Sylvain Calzati, Kenny Elissonde, Pavel Sivakov, and current rider Axel Laurence. Yet from 2026, Laurence will be joined by not just a key protagonist of the 2025 Tour de France in Kévin Vauquelin, but also national road champion Dorian Godon. It will be the first season that Ineos has three French riders on its books, a change rumoured to be linked to French petrochemical giant TotalEnergies' investment in the team.

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