Up next in 10
City AM's Deputy Sports Editor, Matt Hardy interviews former Tour de France winner and newly appointed INEOS Cycling Director of Racing for 2026, Geraint Thomas about what to expect in the race next year.
He also speaks to André Rogaczewski, CEO of Netcompany on why the firms has struck an £87m deal with Ineos which will see the IT services firm become co-title partner of the Grenadiers grand tour cycling team.
The Netcompany Ineos Cycling Team will debut at next week’s Giro d’Italia and see the cycling team – once Team Sky – have a third-party sponsor besides Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals firm for the first time.
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0:00
So today I am here in the CTA Studios to
0:03
talk about a new partnership in the
0:05
world of cycling. Net Company, a huge IT
0:08
firm based here in Europe, has partnered
0:10
with Ineos Grenadiers, who are owned by
0:12
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, ahead of the Grand
0:14
Tour season this year. The 5-year deal
0:17
will span all of the front of shirt of
0:19
the Ineos kit, and it will be a really
0:21
exciting partnership for the two. I'm
0:23
here joined by former Tour de France
0:26
winner Geraint Thomas and the CEO of Net
0:28
Company, Andre Rogachevsky. Hi guys.
0:32
Yeah. Good to
0:33
So first of all, I suppose Andre, talk
0:35
talk to me about this deal.
0:37
How big is this for you and kind of
0:39
where does this put your your firm kind
0:41
of in in the global sponsorship scale?
0:43
Well, it's very big for us. We've been
0:46
developing the company to become a
0:48
European tech giant. We've been focusing
0:50
very much on our platforms and AI.
0:53
And I think the timing is favorable
0:55
right now to go out with this platform
0:57
and this technology and to show that
0:59
Europe
1:00
can actually spawn companies like ours
1:02
that will create solutions that can be
1:04
used for critical purposes. And I think
1:06
this use case with the cycling team is a
1:08
perfect perfect
1:11
setup for doing that. And just on that
1:13
kind of this is for both of you. How
1:14
does the data come into this? So what
1:16
what are we actually going to be seeing
1:17
that that you guys are going to benefit
1:19
the team? Well, the data's coming going
1:21
to come in from any type of source. I
1:23
mean, anything that is digital but also
1:25
even manual.
1:27
And we're going to focus on both the
1:28
individual riders but also on the team,
1:30
of course, also the the real-time
1:32
setting in the race.
1:34
And gradually we will during a discovery
1:36
phase just
1:37
put more and more sources into it and
1:39
then use AI to become more clever and
1:42
more intelligent in decision-making. And
1:44
I suppose we kind of we assume you sit
1:46
on a bike for 13 days going around
1:48
France.
1:49
It it looks it looks hellish but but
1:51
kind of how important is the the tech,
1:52
the stuff that's kind of beyond just
1:54
being on the bike? I think
1:57
in general from a rider position,
1:59
there's so much data around, you know,
2:02
a blizzard of data as is how we put it
2:04
really. And I think to just
2:07
orchestrate all that into one
2:09
platform and one sort of outcome so
2:11
everyone can can see that and then make
2:13
an informed decision off that. I think
2:15
it's
2:16
that's going to be massive. And then
2:17
also from a logistical side like
2:19
for people
2:21
outside of the sport might not realize
2:22
but sometimes you can have three
2:23
different races going on at the same
2:24
time. One in Portugal, one in Italy, one
2:27
up in like Denmark or somewhere. And and
2:30
you know, buses and equipment everywhere
2:32
and then they've got to be somewhere
2:33
else the next week and
2:35
it takes a hell of a lot of
2:36
manpower to organize all that, you know?
2:39
And obviously there's some mistakes
2:40
along the way because
2:41
we're humans. So I think um
2:44
with this platform with pulse, I think
2:46
if that can help
2:48
initially just
2:50
yeah, orchestrate all that, it just
2:52
takes so much more bandwidth off off the
2:54
human side to worry about the actual
2:55
racing. So the guys in the car for
2:57
instance, the directors sportifs, they
2:59
they can just worry about the actual
3:01
race and how we are going to prepare for
3:03
it and and the tactics for the race
3:05
rather than worrying about where a
3:07
certain bike is or chainrings or
3:09
whatever. So I think initially that's
3:12
one of the the first wins but
3:14
you know, as Andre says, this discovery
3:15
phase now is so much to learn and the
3:18
the possibilities are uh well, I'd say
3:21
endless. So
3:22
I suppose kind of they have you to thank
3:24
for this but but it's it's quite a good
3:25
sum of money. Kind of how's that going
3:28
to help Ineos compete with the with the
3:29
big teams cuz there are some huge
3:31
disparities in budgets across cycling. I
3:34
think like for the cycling world just to
3:36
have a sponsor that's got that we've got
3:38
that solid platform now. We've got um
3:42
we don't have to worry about that side.
3:43
It's just more just like the performance
3:45
side now like we want to try and win the
3:46
tour again. That's the apex goal.
3:48
There's a lot of other goals along the
3:49
way to that but we can just focus on
3:52
that and not not be worried about the
3:54
future and this and that. I think it's
3:56
um
3:56
that
3:57
um
3:59
just solid platform really gives a lot
4:01
of confidence and enables us to just
4:05
you know
4:06
worry about the the main thing really.
4:08
And I suppose we're going to see kind of
4:10
all of your rivals coming into this
4:12
space too. Do you think we're seeing
4:14
kind of IT tech AI kind of coming into
4:17
sponsorship ahead of a lot more now?
4:18
Well, I think well, when it comes to
4:20
cycling, definitely yes, over time, for
4:23
sure. But I also think we are
4:25
we are definitely ahead of the curve.
4:28
Um the platform is already being used by
4:31
by Heathrow Airport and other airports
4:33
and traffic hubs and
4:35
energy providers. It's it's a it's a
4:39
solid platform but it's also a new
4:41
platform. Yeah. This type of technology
4:43
and this usage of AI is pretty new.
4:46
And to bring it now, I think it's
4:48
perfect timing.
4:50
Um I am happy that we have a 5-year
4:52
deal.
4:53
Yeah. And as as as Geraint said, we have
4:55
now the time
4:57
to gradually build up the data
4:59
foundation and become more intelligent
5:02
in what we do and
5:03
and hopefully the riders and the whole
5:05
team can concentrate on cycling as much
5:08
as possible and putting in as much
5:11
determination and force and will into
5:13
that and then we can take care of much
5:15
of the rest. And I think it's going to
5:16
be a
5:17
a parameter, an important parameter in
5:20
in winning in cycling in the future, for
5:22
sure. This is kind of both of you but
5:24
next year, Tour de France is coming to
5:26
Britain. That's quite exciting. Kind of
5:28
two-pronged question.
5:30
What does how does this help kind of
5:32
your your presence here in the UK and
5:34
and your growth but also for you to see
5:36
cycling back in Britain at the at that
5:38
sort of first time since Yorkshire, I
5:39
think, was the last tour start here.
5:42
Yeah, 2014. It was in Yorkshire and
5:44
before that was 2007 in in London.
5:48
I was lucky enough to do both. Next year
5:49
actually goes
5:51
well, past the first pub where I had my
5:53
first legal pint with my dad.
5:55
So it's so it's going to be emotional
5:57
for me but for it to come back to the UK
5:59
and to Wales where I'm from is just
6:01
amazing and
6:02
it shows where the sport is in in the
6:04
UK. And you know, being a
6:06
a British team but
6:09
it's going to be huge. And and now with
6:11
this partnership and
6:13
it just feels like it's like 3.0 of the
6:15
evolution of the team, you know? And
6:17
it's super exciting. We're on start of a
6:19
really exciting journey now and
6:21
yeah, I'm I'm I'm looking forward to it.
6:23
Yes, truly exciting, isn't it? And and
6:25
UK is like my second home.
6:28
I even studied here. My kids study here.
6:30
I but I think, you know, for Net Company
6:32
um we've been investing heavily into the
6:35
UK to digitize UK.
6:38
Some of the most
6:39
complex systems, some of the most
6:41
society critical systems we've been
6:43
investing into becoming a viable
6:46
option.
6:47
Um and a newcomer into the market, we've
6:50
got a we had a really good breakthrough
6:52
here.
6:53
So for me it's extra exciting that
6:55
next year
6:57
we're starting in Scotland going down
7:00
It's it's it's amazing. It's a dream
7:01
come true.
7:03
Uh yeah. And I suppose
7:04
does some of you would like to take a
7:06
little bit of credit? We saw the the
7:08
kind of reception you got in Wales when
7:10
last when you won the when you won the
7:11
um
7:12
the yellow jersey. Kind of
7:14
Wales are mad for it and and kind of
7:15
it's going past, as you say, some some
7:17
pretty iconic landmarks in your life
7:19
first time but um find yourself in a bit
7:20
of a bit of a say there, even
7:22
indirectly?
7:24
Um
7:25
um maybe, I guess, but you know, I know
7:28
it was my old coach that that did the
7:29
route actually for the Welsh stage, the
7:31
stage three.
7:33
Um yeah, it even goes past the velodrome
7:35
where I started riding. It's about a K
7:38
to the finish line. And yeah, it's just
7:39
sort of it's such an amazing uh
7:42
opportunity for
7:44
for the UK as well really to just off
7:46
the back of it. You know, like there was
7:47
a lot of talk after London of the legacy
7:49
of the games and stuff and it's just
7:51
another opportunity to, you know,
7:52
cycling, not necessarily just racing but
7:54
just for the health of people and it's
7:56
just such a great sport and um
7:59
so yeah, it has given me so much and if
8:01
I can sort of help promote it as well
8:03
and just get people active, it's
8:05
a win-win. I suppose I should also say
8:07
that the Tour de France Femmes coming to
8:09
London as well. I know you guys don't
8:10
have a women's team but that's also in
8:12
London. So that's really exciting. I
8:13
suppose kind of finally for for yourself
8:17
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has kind of invested
8:19
hugely in sport. He's got lots of
8:21
fingers in lots of pies. Not all of them
8:23
have won instantly and stuff. Are you
8:24
are you quite keen to see this
8:25
partnership be one of the prevailing
8:27
forces in his sporting empire? Yeah, I
8:30
want to win whatever it is, whether I'm
8:32
on the bike or not. And it's taken me a
8:34
bit of adjusting
8:35
cuz I can't really affect it as much as
8:37
what I used to now, sat on sat on the
8:39
bus watching but um
8:41
yeah, it's it's we want to be back at
8:42
the top like for myself, for Dave
8:45
um
8:47
you know, heading up the team, I think.
8:49
And the team itself, you know, all the
8:50
riders, the staff, everyone knows the
8:52
history of the team and everyone wants
8:54
to be back there and everyone's driven
8:56
for it and committed to it.
8:58
Um and we're just pushing each other and
8:59
you know, a lot of high challenge but
9:01
also at the same time supporting the
9:02
guys with that, you know? So um
9:05
as I say, it's this it's an exciting
9:08
evolution of the team and and to be
9:10
in the front of that with, you know, the
9:13
latest AI and this platform, I think
9:15
that's only going to
9:16
yeah, benefit. So uh
9:19
yeah.
9:20
I'll keep saying it but we're excited.
9:22
And and finally, have have you have you
9:24
learned anything about your cycling
9:25
technique and have you learned anything
9:27
about AI from each other?
9:29
Well, I've I mean, I've been cycling all
9:31
my life but that was more for fun than
9:33
to you know, to get to stay in shape but
9:35
uh
9:36
I I mean, all the data we've already
9:38
looked into. We've been building the
9:39
first version of this this platform.
9:43
That's a
9:44
It's it is a blizzard of data.
9:46
And I'm really looking forward to
9:48
showcase how we can use that. And I
9:50
think cycling just got even more
9:52
interesting. And I think it's great that
9:53
we have a piece of European technology
9:55
instead of
9:56
American and or Chinese where we using
9:59
this for for this purpose and
10:02
Yeah, I mean We talk a lot so
10:06
maybe I can get it tricky too next time
10:08
I'm going to go up one of those hills
10:10
but it's got to be the different
10:12
I think my time is very different from
10:14
even from yours right now so Yeah, I
10:16
should I should say on that European
10:18
point you know just just a quick word on
10:20
on pulse and and kind of
10:22
kind of why why does this matter that
10:23
we're kind of producing our own stuff
10:25
over here this side of the ball I think
10:26
We all know I mean even when you wake up
10:28
every day and you look at the global
10:30
news stream right and then then
10:32
geopolitical turmoil I think we all know
10:34
that technology is battlefield
10:37
AI is important
10:39
We need to prevail as a continent we
10:41
need to develop solutions and stay
10:42
independent and keep the data as an
10:44
asset
10:45
and for the team and for everything here
10:47
I mean having our own platform our own
10:50
data and our own our own algorithm is
10:53
crucially important and the smarter we
10:55
get
10:56
the better we we will be at decision
10:58
making the more we have an asset here
11:01
I don't want to give that to someone
11:02
else and that goes for any other IT
11:04
solution in Europe so that's what we're
11:06
fighting for as a company And finally
11:07
who's who's one to watch this year who
11:09
are you all excited about
11:11
In our team
11:13
in our team well we've had a lot of
11:15
new guys to the team obviously Oscar
11:17
Onley Scottish rider who you know great
11:19
potential Kevin Voquelin as well French
11:21
guy great potential here from a GC point
11:24
of view then we've got Dorian Godon
11:26
who's already won a few races already
11:27
he's having the best season of his
11:29
career so
11:30
and that's infectious through the team
11:31
you know you get on a bit of a snowball
11:33
effect and that momentum is there and
11:35
everyone wants to be part of it and so
11:37
it's
11:38
it's still a long way to go don't get me
11:39
wrong but it's the start of a very
11:41
exciting journey now and it feels like
11:43
we're we've got that momentum as we're
11:44
just building on it now and continuing
11:46
that progression so and just to add
11:49
Andre's cycling ability is a lot better
11:51
than my
11:52
tech [laughter]
11:54
I got a laptop for the first time 6
11:55
months ago so
11:57
Well on that Gary Andre thank you for
11:59
joining us in the studio today cheers
12:01
Thank you Cheers
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