Vauquelin targets lofty goals with Ineos: 'I haven't had the yellow jersey for a single day… That's the dream'

Whilst currently on a team training camp with the British team in Spain, Vauquelin revealed the lofty ambitions that both he and Ineos have ahead of the 2026 season in an interview with L’Equipe.

"For now, I feel I'm on the right track by aiming for the general classification. Every rider's dream is to win the Tour de France, so I have to keep going," Vauquelin said to L’Equipe. "This summer I experienced something so extraordinary thanks to the fans that I want to go back. And now the dream is the yellow jersey."

The 24-year-old who hails from Normandy enjoyed many successful seasons as a standout rider at Arkéa-B&B Hotels. Following the switch to Ineos, Vauquelin hopes he can expand on his impressive string of GC results in 2025, which also included 2nd place at the Tour de Suisse. The Frenchman revealed that his Tour de France GC performance in 2025 came earlier than expected.

"What I did at the Tour (finishing 7th), they envisioned me doing in one or two years. So everything happened faster, which is all for the best because it raised their expectations; they thought I had already taken a step forward," he explained.

His performances at the Tour de Suisse and Tour de France stood out as breakthrough performances from a GC perspective from the Frenchman, though Vauquelin admitted that his future GC aspirations were formed even before these impressive results.

"Yes, all of this was decided even before the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne. We were already working on a project to one day win a week-long race, to try for a three-week race, while still keeping the Classics on the side," Vauquelin said, who had previously expressed his desire to target GC victory in one-week races.

While he has enjoyed success with his aggressive style of racing, Vauquelin believes focusing on general classification is the right path forward despite his natural instincts to attack whenever he senses an opportunity.

"I had to see what I preferred: attacking everywhere to win stages or spending three weeks being very focused. For now, I feel I'm on the right track by aiming for the general classification," he said.

Although he has achieved plenty already during his first two Tour participations, Vauquelin remains fixed on his dream goal of wearing the yellow jersey.

“I've had the white jersey, the fervour of the crowd, a stage win, a top 10 finish in the general classification... But I haven't had that yellow jersey for even a single day. That's the dream." 

Vauquelin also expressed his excitement about working with Ineos Grenadiers Director of Racing, Geraint Thomas, with whom he feels he shares similarities from their cycling backgrounds.

"Maybe he sees a bit of himself in me when I was younger because we're both good time trialists, we both did track cycling, I made my Tour de France debut in a similar way," said Vauquelin.

"It's definitely going to be a great asset, such an experienced rider with a great track record and his own unique approach... It just makes you want to join."