INEOS Grenadiers will not wear white shorts in spring classics after all

INEOS Grenadiers will hardly, if at all, race in the much-discussed white/grey shorts this spring, opting for a darker version in the European spring races. This was confirmed by a team spokesperson to Cycling Weekly. The light shorts sparked quite a bit of debate during the presentation of the 2026 kit.

At the Santos Tour Down Under, INEOS Grenadiers riders raced in their white/grey shorts, but at the first European race of the season, the Tour of Valencia, they all lined up wearing black shorts. This suggests the team is returning to a more traditional and, above all, more practical choice for this time of year. In spring, rain, cold, and mud are more the rule than the exception. This is not an ideal combination with white shorts.

According to the INEOS Grenadiers spokesperson, the choice of shorts is linked to ‘performance.’ For the European spring period, black is the standard option. Outside this period, the team can switch back to the white/grey version.

This means the light shorts could still make a comeback later in the season, for example in warmer and drier conditions. So, it is not a definitive farewell to the controversial shorts. The final choice remains dependent on conditions and the performance team’s considerations.