Sir Dave Brailsford has devoted his commitment to Manchester United by officially stepping down as team principal of the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, according to reports. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s trusted confidant is set for a prominent role in the 71-year-old’s investment at Old Trafford and has decided to place his complete focus on football.
Brailsford has earned a seat on the United board alongside Ineos chief Jean-Claude Blanc ahead of the Premier League’s ratification of Ratcliffe’s 29 per cent stake next month.
His involvement in cycling had decreased while he conducts an audit of United’s football operations and personnel before Ineos officially enter power.
And, according to The Telegraph, Brailsford informed Ineos Grenadiers’ riders and staff that he was walking away during their winter training camp in Majorca.
The cycling team are said to have declined to comment on the decision, but Brailsford was removed as team principal on their website on Friday night.
Despite his exit from the role, the 59-year-old will still be involved with the Ineos Grenadiers as part of his position as the petrochemical firm’s director of sport.
He works across Ratcliffe’s range of sporting projects, including Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team, Mercedes’ F1 team and Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice. Ineos also sponsor the New Zealand rugby team.
Brailsford’s primary focus looks set to be on United, though. He has already been an ever-present figure at the club’s four games since Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion deal was announced.
His decision ends an incredible era in British sport. Brailsford co-founded the team with the backing of Sky UK, forming Team Sky in 2010 and going on to enjoy vast success in cycling.
Having set out to win the Tour de France with a British rider within five years, Bradley Wiggins achieved that feat just two years later.
Team Sky went on to win seven of eight Tours between 2012 and 2019 with four different riders. Five more successes came between 2011 and 2021.
Brailsford was the final remaining tie to the original Team Sky set-up after deputy team principal Rod Ellingworth resigned in November.
He followed ex-CEO Fran Millar, who left a few seasons ago, out of the exit door. Both were also founding members.
Ineos Grenadiers’ new chief executive, John Allert, is set to address the media for the first time next week.
As part of his role, he will report to Brailsford and Blanc.
