Steve Cummings was the lead directeur sportif for Ineos Grenadiers on the 2023 Tour de France, however he isn’t in Florence for this yr’s race, with the group confirming to Cyclingnews that he’ll solely work ‘remotely’ in the course of the greatest race of the season.
Daniel Benson first reported Cummings’ stunning absence by way of his Substack web page, and the group confirmed the information to Cyclingnews. “At this level Steve just isn’t on race however supporting remotely,” Ineos informed Cyclingnews.
“The lead DS for the Tour is Zak Dempster who was additionally the DS for the Giro, and has been working with many of the key riders this season,” Ineos informed Daniel Benson.
“Steve, as our Director of Racing, is throughout all races all year long, and on the Tour particularly shall be supporting Zak and the group remotely, together with Scott Drawer, John Allert and the opposite senior group.”
Cummings has labored on numerous races as directeur sportif this season, together with the Critérium du Dauphiné, which is historically seen because the build-up race to the Tour de France. He has little doubt performed a key position in deciding the Ineos line-up and race technique for the Tour de France however he won’t be on the race.
Cummings and Tom Pidcock appeared to endure a tense relationship in the course of the 2023 Tour de France in accordance with the just lately launched Netflix Tour de France Unchained collection. Nevertheless, Pidcock and teammate Carlos Rodriguez dismissed the Netflix episode as “drama.”
Rodriguez and Egan Bernal have been designated as Ineos’ GC leaders, with Pidcock and Geraint Thomas to assist them and goal stage wins.
Ineos didn’t elaborate additional, and Cummings didn’t touch upon his absence.
Cummings was promoted to the position of ‘Director of Racing’ when Rod Ellingworth left the group in the course of the winter. Scott Drawer returned because the efficiency director and John Allert stepped up from managing director to CEO of the British WorldTour group. Former Movistar rider Imanol Erviti has additionally joined the group as a directeur sportif.
Cummings didn’t characteristic within the group’s Tour line-up announcement, with Drawer and the rider the one ones talking about their Tour hopes.
Erviti and Dempster had been among the many 50 or so group workers current on the press convention on Wednesday night, however there was no signal of Cummings.
Former group supervisor Dave Brailsford used to hog the limelight throughout his lengthy spell accountable for the group, however no member of the group administration took half within the press convention, leaving the riders to speak about their very own and the group’s wider Tour de France ambitions.
“So long as we’re all pulling in the identical course, which I am assured we shall be profitable,” Thomas mentioned.
“After all, there’ll be bumps within the highway, however I believe it is simply coping with them as finest we are able to at the moment. We’re all clear what we’re coming right here to attempt to obtain.”
