Ineos Grenadiers hope to utilise artificial intelligence to return the team to the top of cycling after agreeing a new deal with Danish IT supplier Netcompany.

The team will be known as Netcompany-Ineos Cycling Team from next week's Giro d'Italia, and the five-year partnership means their annual budget will increase significantly to bring it into line with the sport's so-called 'super teams' such as that of current four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar's UAE-Team Emirates-XRG.

Pogacar, 27, is considered one of the sport's greatest ever talents, with the Paris-Roubaix the only significant race he has not won.

Netcompany-Ineos achieved record success as Team Sky and Ineos, winning seven Tours de France between 2012 and 2019, two Giro d'Italia (2018 and 2021) and two Vuelta a Espana Grand Tours (2011 and 2017).

"I think we'll get back to the top of the sport again - it's really exciting," director of racing and 2018 Tour de France champion for Team Sky Geraint Thomas told BBC Sport, adding: "The team has evolved a lot over the years - this is definitely, 3.0."