Cummings 'never had a problem' with Pidcock

British sports director downplays rift and looks ahead to future with Jayco-Alula after leaving Ineos

- Andy McGrath

The winter of discontent is over for Steve Cummings. His beloved football team Liverpool are runaway leaders of the Premier League and he finds himself in a new role as sports director with WorldTour team Jayco-Alula after a controversial exit from Ineos Grenadiers.

His last race for the British team was June’s Critérium du Dauphiné, as the director of racing unexpectedly did not appear at the Tour de France. Sources close to the situation told Cycling Weekly at that time that his absence was in part due to his apparent fractured relationship with team leader Tom Pidcock. Pidcock said at the race’s team presentation that he felt Ineos would be “better” without Cummings there.

“On a personal level, I never had a problem [with him] and haven’t got one,” he told CW at his new squad’s media day last Monday. “It’s quite surprising, all the stuff that was written. It’s all smoke really. What was on Netflix, that was it. There was never anything else,” Cummings said, referring to the latest Tour de France: Unchained documentary series. It includes a scene where Cummings tells Pidcock he will have to commit for Carlos Rodríguez. The Briton says he is not sure he agrees before asking the cameras to be turned off.

Ineos ups and downs

“The team decided to take me off the race. Like when you’re a rider, it’s just a decision you respect,” he said. “I guess they thought it was in the best interest of the team. And then you start to look elsewhere.”

Having posted on LinkedIn in November announcing his decision to step away, this was the first time Cummings has publicly addressed the saga since it unfolded.