Once dominant, now dominated, Ineos-Grenadiers have catch up to do after Thomas's podium

PARIS: After winning seven of eight titles from 2012-2019, Ineos-Grenadiers have been kicked out of contention since Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard seized power in brutal fashion and there is little chance that the British outfit will regain their crown in the near future.

Pogacar won the 2020 and 2021 Tours before being toppled by Vingegaard this year, and in these three editions, Ineos-Grenadiers only managed two third-place finishes through Richard Carapaz last year and Geraint Thomas on Sunday while never being in the mix for the overall victory.

"They're bastards," Thomas joked when asked about Vingegaard and Pogacar.

The Dane won his maiden Tour at his second attempt while his rival, 23, won the first two he took part in.

"There's always been young guys performing well but those two are even better, especially Pogacar who can do everything."

In the 22-year-old Tom Pidcock, winner at top of L'Alpe d'Huez on his Tour de France debut, Ineos-Grenadiers have a potential Tour winner, but he still has a long road ahead of him to be near Vingegaard and Pogacar's level.

"Tom for sure has a very bright future ... but in the more short term, who do you sign?," Thomas said. "The best way is as we came in here with a good strong lineup."

Ineos-Grenadiers started the race with three leaders, but things quickly went pear shaped.

"Dani (Martinez) was sick, Yatesy (Adam Yates) has been sick now, so if we have three really god guys, maybe, but Jumbo-Visma are so strong. UAE, you'd say they're weak but that day (on the mountain stage finishing in Peyragudes in the third week), Iceberg (Mikkel Bjerg) and (Brandon) McNulty, that day, what can you do?

"It is definitely going to motivate us and I'll do everything I can if I do one or two more