Sam Welsford set for switch to INEOS Grenadiers

Australian sprinter Sam Welsford is set to sign a two-year contract with the INEOS Grenadiers starting in 2026, following months of transfer speculation, as first reported by Daniel Benson's Cycling Substack.

The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider had been linked with a move to the Australian team Jayco AlUla, but the INEOS Grenadiers have emerged as the preferred destination for the 28-year-old Australian sprinter.

Whilst official confirmation cannot be announced until August 1 when the UCI transfer window formally opens, sources indicate that a two-year offer from the British squad is on the table and likely to be finalised soon.

The move represents a significant addition to the INEOS Grenadiers' sprint capabilities as they continue to reshape their roster. The team had signed fellow Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan at the end of January, but Ewan announced his immediate retirement from the sport at the start of May. INEOS Grenadiers will be hoping that Welsford can fill the void that has been left by the departure of Ewan and give them an option for sprints in stages in grand tours and one-day races, something that the team has often lacked despite their pedigree in the sport.

Though Welsford is not expected to bring any of his current lead-out riders with him from Red-Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, INEOS Grenadiers have about five or six transfer spaces to fill, according to Daniel Benson, meaning that an additional lead-out rider could be picked up later on in the year.

Welsford is an accomplished sprinter who has claimed 6 victories at his home race, the Santos Tour Down Under, including three in 2025 and the points classification. He is also the current Australian criterium champion and was part of the Australian team pursuit team that won gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024.