Sir Dave Brailsford, Geraint Thomas, Michał Kwiatkowski and Andre Rogaczewski on stage in London at the new sponsor event (Image credit: Getty Images)

"We will win the Tour de France within the next five years," would be an ambitious statement for anyone not called Tadej Pogačar or UAE Team Emirates-XRG to make in 2026, but it was among the striking words uttered by the CEO of Ineos' new co-title sponsor on Tuesday.

His name is Andrej Rogaczewski, co-founder and CEO of Netcompany, a rapidly growing AI technology leader in Europe that has entered cycling with big money – reportedly €100 million over five years – and grand ambitions to both optimise Jim Ratcliffe's British team and return them to former yellow jersey-winning glory.

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But can AI really help win them the Tour de France?

Brailsford spoke on stage during the event (Image credit: Getty Images)

They obviously don't have Pogačar, but Netcompany-Ineos are also without any of recent his closest GC rivals, like Jonas…