‘We’ve had a rough couple of years but we’re on the way back’ – A nervous Geraint Thomas delights in Ineos Grenadiers’ TTT success at Paris-Nice

Ineos Grenadiers secured a significant victory in the Team Time Trial at Paris-Nice on Tuesday, marking their first TTT win in five years. The British outfit, spearheaded by Geraint Thomas, completed the 26.9km course around Auxerre in 31 minutes and 51 seconds, narrowly beating UAE Team Emirates by one second. This result propelled Egan Bernal into fifth place overall, just 10 seconds behind race leader Luke Plapp, and positioned Thomas 32 seconds adrift in 16th.

This TTT triumph holds considerable weight for Ineos, a team that has struggled to replicate its Grand Tour dominance of previous eras. Following a period where they often dictated races, their recent performances have been overshadowed by the likes of Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates. This win, particularly with a resurgent Bernal and veteran Thomas at the helm, offers a tangible sign of renewed competitiveness and a much-needed morale boost after what Thomas himself described as a "rough couple of years."

While one TTT does not a Grand Tour make, this result suggests Ineos might finally be finding the gears to challenge at the sharp end again. Or, at the very least, they've remembered how to ride in a straight line, fast, together.