Sky might have come crashing down but Team Ineos have chemistry to sustain success in cycling

Everything should be in place for Team Ineos to make its mark in the sport and extend Team Sky’s legacy.

Ironically, despite their future beyond the current season being plunged into uncertainty before it had even started, it was in 2018 that Sky stumbled upon a new-found formula for success.

For so long it had been Froome’s team, and with good reason. The Kenya-born climbing specialist had ascended into solo sixth place on the all-time Grand Tour winners list following his maiden Giro d’Italia triumph.

He headed to France later in the year aiming to sweep up his fourth-straight Tour title, one that would take him level for Grand Tour triumphs with legends Fausto Coppi, Miguel Indurain and Alberto Contador.

Sky did indeed claim a fourth straight crown, and sixth since 2012. But it was Welshman Geraint Thomas – so often a domestique throughout his career – who became the dominant force as four-time champion Froome faded on the brutal ascent of Col du Portet.

Nairo Quintana claimed Stage 17 victory but Thomas finished third and gained time on his nearest rivals as Froome disappeared out of the picture. He would recover to overtake Primoz Roglic and finish third overall, but his vice-like grip on the famous race was significantly loosened.

So too it seemed that Sky’s grip at the top of the sport would be prised loose following December’s announcement that the British broadcaster was ending its 10-year association.

And yet with Ratcliffe’s investment, allayed to Thomas’ graduation to a Grand Tour contender and the fact Ineos possess one of the best rosters on the UCI WorldTour – Colombia’s Egan Bernal won the prestigious Paris-Nice race last week – it seems like it could remain business as usual.

In the wake of his Tour triumph last July, 32-year-old Thomas penned a new three-year deal running until 2021. And it’s not as if Froome, 33, will take talk of his demise following the surrender of the famous yellow jersey lightly.

He will be more driven, intent to continue his surge towards the summit, joining cycling’s greats.

A few weeks ago, Brailsford would have held little hope of keeping the dominance Sky had exerted at the top echelon of cycling under his guidance.

With an annual budget estimated at £35million, Sky had always faced strong opponents but had ruled the sport and its prized asset. Froome, Thomas and Sir Bradley Wiggins – the first rider donning Sky colours – had all lifted the Tour title since 2012. Only Vincenzo Nibali, then with Astana, had broken the cycle, in 2014.

Maintaining their status as kings appeared troublesome as investment dried up. Yet now, even greater funding appears as if it will become available, and that only promises more positives for the British team and further pain for the rest of the peloton.

“They’ll probably buy Aston Martins for team cars, they’ll have space shuttle buses, jetpacks,” former Team GB rider Max Sciandri told Cycling Weekly earlier this week.

Pumping in £35million a year to run the project is a significant investment to most, but would appear to be a mere drop in the ocean for a man worth an estimated £21billion.

Add in the fact Ratcliffe is a cycling enthusiast and it seems even more of a promising fit. The team will be officially unveiled at the Tour of Yorkshire on May 2 – Stage 1 passes through Beverley where Ratcliffe went to school.

But should concerns also be raised?

After all, for all its celebration of incredible endurance and the human spirit, and the sheer brutality inflicted on the body – not to mention the horrific accidents and injuries, even common instances of death both during and outside racing – cycling has always been besieged by a seedy element.

For all their success in the last 10 years, Sky have particularly been dogged by accusations of cheating. Froome’s quartet of Tour de France triumphs have been the subject of intense investigation following his 2017 Vuelta a Espana victory – Froome was found to have twice the allowed dose of salbutamol (he suffers with asthma) in his system.

There were even calls for him to be barred from entering the 2018 Giro – along with the Tour and the Vuelta, the third of cycling’s Grand Tour races – while he remained under scrutiny.

Anger only intensified when he was not only allowed to compete, but won – his sixth and latest Grand Tour title, which also completed the triple crown.

The fact that Ratcliffe has made his fortune in the chemicals industry will do little to dampen the murmurs of discontent.

Although Deceuninck-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefevre was among those to welcome the Ineos announcement, as well as reports suggesting French oil company Total could back the Direct Energie squad, there are plenty of opposers to Ratcliffe’s arrival – both from within and outside cycling.

Environmental groups have been quick to point out that Team Sky will go from promoting an ocean rescue and #passonplastic campaign to being sponsored by a major producer of plastic.

But Sky has never been proved guilty of any wrongdoing. And it’s not as if it is a sport full of clean noses.

With chemicals tycoon Ratcliffe on board, there is a veritable periodic table of elements now combining to suggest Ineos will continue to concoct success.

As long as the money is pouring in there will likely be nothing periodic about Ineos’ continuing presence among the cycling elite.