Brailsford and Ineos face tough challenges as Tour doping probe continues

As Tadej Pogačar stood on the Champs-Élysées podium, marking his fourth Tour de France victory, the man who had guided British cyclists to multiple yellow jerseys and Olympic gold medals had already departed for his home in Monaco.

Not too long ago, victories under the leadership of Dave Brailsford in the Tour de France were almost a given. From 2012 to 2019, during which riders from Team Sky and later Ineos secured seven titles in eight years, Brailsford was at the center of it all.

Ask those involved with British Cycling’s Olympic program, particularly the Tour de France, who set the standards, who led during challenges, or who lifted spirits when morale faltered, and the answer would likely be "Dave."

Once seen as the driving force behind British cycling’s success, Brailsford’s return to the Tour this year was overshadowed by an anti-doping investigation involving a member of his Ineos Grenadiers team, diverting attention from their two mountain stage wins.

Last Thursday, the team announced that David Rozman, a long-serving staff member, had left the Tour after the International Testing Agency (ITA) opened an investigation into alleged communications he had in 2012 with Mark Schmidt, a German doctor later convicted of doping offenses.

Rozman’s name first surfaced publicly when the Tour reached Châteauroux on July 13. Brailsford declined to comment on the reports, which initially emerged in a German documentary in June. The documentary mentioned the team but did not identify the Slovenian staff member.

The team’s management later confirmed they were aware of the ITA’s interest in Rozman since April. In their latest statement, they noted the matter had undergone "a thorough review by an external law firm."

From the start of this year’s Tour, Brailsford made it clear he had no interest in discussing doping. For three weeks, he kept that promise—and, as it turned out, avoided speaking on the record entirely.

The team’s responses to the allegations followed a familiar pattern, emphasizing they had "acted responsibly and with due process" while restating their "zero-tolerance policy."

Three weeks is a long time in the Tour de France. For someone who once thrived on sharing his insights on marginal gains, it was also a long silence. Now, Brailsford’s return to the race—after his troubled time at Manchester United—feels distant, even though it was initially hailed as a significant move.

"We welcomed him back with open arms," said the team’s chief executive, Johan Allert, before the race. "He’s a valuable asset for us. It’s great to have him back."

The sports director, Zak Dempster, added, "We’re all thrilled to have him here and feel privileged by his presence."