INEOS Grenadiers have signed Australian sprinter Sam Welsford (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) to a two-year contract starting in 2026, the team announced on December 15.
The 29-year-old brings Olympic gold from the Paris 2024 Men's Team Pursuit, where Australia set a world record of 3:40.730 in the first round before claiming their first title in the event for 20 years. On the road, Welsford stormed the early sprint season - claiming a hat-trick at the Tour Down Under where he took the sprint classification.
The signing addresses a sprint void left by Caleb Ewan's immediate retirement on May 6, 2025, after just seven races with INEOS. Director of Racing Geraint Thomas, who also signed Grand Tour podium finisher Jack Haig in recent weeks, has prioritised rebuilding the team's fast-finishing capabilities.
"I'm really excited to become a Grenadier," Welsford said in the team's official statement. "I've always admired the team's professionalism and I feel like this is the exact right environment for the next step in my career. I'm very hungry to contribute to the team's success."
Thomas emphasised the team's commitment to supporting Welsford's sprint ambitions: "We haven’t had many sprinters in the team in the past but when we have, they’ve been pretty successful, so hopefully Sam can continue that history," he said.
"Having been given an early insight into what he’s capable of physically, we believe there’s still plenty to unlock with Sam. The team has shown how dialled we are in positioning our fast guys for the finish, and we’ll do the same to give him opportunities to win."
Welsford will work closely with Elia Viviani, the former world champion who now serves as a directeur sportif. His track-derived power and proven ability to launch decisive 250-metre efforts position him as a threat in Grand Tour stages and one-day races alike.
The Australian's Tour Down Under performances showcased his resilience and tactical nous, including a Stage 2 victory following a crash early on the stage. With INEOS promising strong positioning and lead-out support, Welsford's sprint gives INEOS a clear sprint focal point for 2026.
Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
