Sir Dave Brailsford steps away from Ineos Grenadiers role to focus on Manchester United

Members of Ineos Grenadiers have played down the impact that Sir Dave Brailsford stepping away from cycling to focus on Manchester United will have.

Brailsford was removed from the staff section on Ineos Grenadiers' website on Friday night and a report emerged claiming he had officially stepped down as team principal.

The 59-year-old has been a heavily visible presence around United over the last few weeks following the announcement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of a minority stake at the club.

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Brailsford co-founded Ineos Grenadiers, formerly named Team Sky, almost 15 years ago, but he's now set to move away from cycling to focus on Ineos' wider sporting portfolio.

Grenadiers' sports director Oli Cookson told the Global Cycling Network: “Dave is now the boss of all Ineos Sport. He’s still in contact with us, he’s just working across all the sports, so nothing really changes.

"Like the [Telegraph] article said, he was there in December and he’s in contact with us and all the sports. It’s only a positive thing if we look at the situation that Ineos is doing with all the sports.

“Everything about the team has been said. Of course, Dave’s heavily involved still, as he is with all the sports. Like I say we’re in a fortunate position with the situation, so there’s not really much else to say.

“I think all teams are evolving. I don’t think there’s anything really to say on the Dave B matter, I think it’s quite clear that he’s got this position as the director of Ineos Sport, and he’s still in contact with us and involved in our successes and our structure.”

Ineos cyclist Ben Swift added: “It’s been