'I can help get the team back to where it was' - 20-year-old Artem Shmidt looks to the future after Ineos Grenadiers' disappointing season
Shmidt hoping to be a part of the young generation helping to revitalise the British squad


Ineos Grenadiers may have endured their worst-ever season, but the team’s newly signed 20-year-old American, Artem Shmidt, says he hopes he can play a part in helping the team reclaim its status as one of the biggest and most successful in the WorldTour.
With just 14 wins achieved this year, 2024 has officially become the squad’s low point from a results perspective. 2020, the Covid-affected season, previously held the record as the team’s worst year yet - with just 19 wins in the record books - but the lack of victories this year has stood out.
Shmidt headed to Canada last month to race the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montréal for Ineos. The Georgia native was only making his second and third appearances at WorldTour level, but the young American talent shone as he went on the attack during the race in Québec - won by Michael Matthews - before getting in the thick of the action in Montréal just days later.
Shmidt finished 95th and 89th in the two races, but told Cycling Weekly in Canada that he had taken heart from his first few performances at cycling’s top level and explained that he hoped he could change what he he felt was a negative outlook surrounding the team in the years ahead.
"It was really good to see that I have the legs for this level and the confidence to get in breakaways and try and make things happen," Shmidt said. "Even though I got caught in Québec, I took a lot out of that experience and I think I can really go forward with it now into the future."
"From a personal standpoint, I just hope to continue now to develop and hopefully I can help get the team back to where it was," he added. "Whether that’s a team role over the next few years, I really want to prioritise that, helping the team the best I can to get back to where it has been before."
The team have announced a handful of signings for 2025, with one of them being British pro Sam Watson. Axel Laurance has also joined from Alpecin-Deceuninck along with Bob Jungels from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, who will provide experience as Luke Rowe gets set to retire and move into DS work elsewhere. Ineos Grenadiers have 10 riders aged 23 and under, some of the most promising young talent in the world, and Shmidt is one of four young North Americans at the squad.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Shmidt told Cycling Weekly that he was fully committed to helping the team regain the ability to compete with the likes of UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike. Both of the latter two squads have dominated the Grand Tour’s for the last two years while Ineos have been left empty-handed.
"For sure it’s the plan," Shmidt said. "We signed a lot of young guys lately, including myself, AJ August, Magnus Sheffield and Michael Leonard. So I hope we can all develop, push on and help the team in the best way we can."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered major races elsewhere across the world. As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and focuses on coverage of UK domestic cycling.
-
World-class women’s cycling to return to U.S. for the first time since 2019 at Maryland Cycling Classic debut event
Olympic champions and international teams headline initial team roster for the September race
-
I'm living proof that life begins at 50: Why it’s never too late to be the fittest you’ve ever been
-
More intensity, nutrition and freedom: inside Tom Pidcock's career-best form
The Briton is thriving at his new team, and has been competitive in one-day races and stage races so far in 2025
-
'I don't want to come away with any regrets' - Tom Pidcock promises attack, attack, attack at the Giro d'Italia
The Briton is making his debut in the Italian Grand Tour is targeting stage victories
-
'I only found out I was coming to this race yesterday' - Sam Watson claims first WorldTour win in 3.4km Tour de Romandie prologue
Brit wins by just three tenths of a second to take leader's jersey
-
Tadej Pogačar flies to dominant victory at La Flèche Wallonne
Slovenian takes second win at Belgian classic ahead of Kévin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock
-
'If I were a tennis player then my career would be over': Remco Evenepoel contemplated early retirement after serious training accident
Double Olympic champion was left with nerve damage and says his shoulder is not yet fully healed ahead of his return to racing at Brabantse Pijl
-
'It can really push me along' - How a velodrome comeback is making Caleb Ewan faster on the road
Australian says he'll "definitely" continue track work after rekindling passion
-
Could Caleb Ewan be Ineos Grenadiers' first Tour de France sprinter since Mark Cavendish? 'That's my goal'
"All I can do is try to win as much as possible and prove that I deserve to be there," says Australian
-
'The energy within our team is electric' - Tom Pidcock and Q36.5 invited to Vuelta a España
Pidcock's team one of three wildcard invites to this year's Vuelta