With the road season put to bed, October is usually the time for riders to put away their bikes for some well-earned rest and relaxation.
However, just before the athletes swap cleats for flip-flops, teams tend to gather for short post-season camps.
They’re often a chance to debrief and look back at the team’s achievements, while new recruits are welcomed, and some initial plans are drawn up for the coming season.
Ineos Grenadiers is no exception in that regard, and last week the British WorldTour squad gathered in Nice, France. Team owner Jim Ratcliffe is also the proprietor of the French soccer club OGC Nice, and with both squads in the same city, a short training session was put on between the players, riders, and staff.
The football players included Aaron Ramsey, Dante, and several other internationals.
Groups were formed, with a number of relaxed and light-hearted soccer technique drills organized. Our sources have informed us that Geraint Thomas and Michal Kwiatkowski impressed the Nice players the most with their on-the-ball skills, although we can confirm that no professional contracts will be handed out.
Check out the gallery below.
Cracking team camp with @ogcnice. Was a little rusty at first but soon pinging them in from all over the park. @aaronramsey was definitely impressed. Just waiting on that contract now đź“ťđź‘Ś pic.twitter.com/15HdfpsjqL
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) October 22, 2022
Dani MartĂnez shows off his new Nice football kit at the training ground.
Michal Kwiatkowski is put through his paces during the skills exercise. He looks like a natural number 10 or the next Robert Lewandowski.
World Hour Record holder Filippo Ganna linked up with his Ineos Grenadiers teammates at the camp in Nice.
Mattia Viti, who plays at centre back for Nice, with fellow Italian Filippo Ganna.
Perfect technique on show from Brandon Rivera.
Magnus Sheffield talks tactics with 22-year-old French center back Jean-Clair Tobido. The player was on loan at Nice last year but made the move permanent from Barcelona.
Tao Geoghegan Hart and several of his Ineos Grenadiers teammate spent a training session with the Nice players during the team’s recent training camp.
Veteran Brazilian centre back Dante was all smiles at the skills event in Nice.
Former Arsenal legend Aaron Ramsey catches up with fellow Welshman and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.
Ramsey spent the best years of his career at Arsenal and scored in two FA Cup Finals for “The Gunners.” The second of those goals stopped Chelsea winning the double. Thank you.