Ineos Grenadiers announce Strade selection without Arensman and Bernal

INEOS Grenadiers has announced its final selection for Strade Bianche, and we immediately notice two striking absences: Thymen Arensman and Egan Bernal. The two climbers were slated for the Italian classic but will not start on Saturday.

Egan Bernal stood on the podium at Strade Bianche in 2021 but hasn’t appeared in the Italian classic since. This season, that looked set to change, as INEOS Grenadiers planned to field the Colombian champion as their leader in the race over the gravel roads. "We are counting on his class," INEOS team director Leonardo Basso recently told BICI.Pro.

However, the 2019 Tour winner is absent from the final seven-man roster, along with the other top climber: Thymen Arensman. That’s despite the Dutchman being scheduled to ride Strade Bianche.

No revenge for Arensman after all
"The team asked me if I wanted to do Strade Bianche, even though it’s risky with the Giro coming up. But it’s fun, isn’t it, the gravel?” the Dutchman told WielerFlits during the Volta ao Algarve. "I think I would really like to do it. I also want to take revenge on what happened last year in the Giro. I find it really enjoyable, so I’m going to try to go," he announced then.

With both leaders absent, INEOS Grenadiers will start Saturday’s race without a clear GC contender. French puncher Axel Laurence — who already won the final stage of the Tour de La Provence this year — might now be the man to shine. Jack Haig, Lucas Hamilton, Kim Heiduk, Artem Schmidt, Connor Swift, and Brandon Rivera complete the seven-man squad.

Arensman and Bernal are still listed on the provisional start list for Tirreno-Adriatico (March 8-15). This stage race begins Monday with an individual time trial in Lido di Camaiore.