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British cycling team changes name again for Tour de France

Cycling Froome Changing Teams

FILE - In this Wednesday July 25, 2018 file photo, Britain’s Chris Froome climbs during the seventeenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 65 kilometers (40.4 miles), at Saint-Lary-Soulan Portet pass, France. Four-time Tour de France champion Froome will join fast-growing cycling team Israel Start-Up Nation for the start of next season after losing his status as the leader of Team Ineos following the emergence of Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal, it was announced Thursday, July 9, 2020. Froome’s contract with Ineos expires in December and team has decided not to renew it. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena , file)

AP

LONDON -- The cycling team known as Sky when winning six Tour de France titles from 2012-18 got its second name change in 15 months.

Sky became Team Ineos before Egan Bernal’s victory in the 2019 race. Bernal followed Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas as winners for the Britain-based team.

The team said in a statement it will be known as Ineos Grenadiers when the delayed Tour opens August 29.

The name promotes a brand of SUV designed by its billionaire owner Jim Ratcliffe which the team said will launch in 2021.

Cycling news sites in Italy reported the team’s colors will change from mostly black to blue.