Team Ineos has officially become Ineos Grenadiers ahead of the Tour de France ©Ineos Grenadiers

Team Ineos has officially become Ineos Grenadiers with a launch event held in Nice prior to this year’s Tour de France.

The name change was announced last month, with the aim aligning the team with the Grenadier 4x4 vehicle designed, engineered and manufactured by INEOS Automotive.

The vehicle’s design was released in July with the aim of being put into production in late 2021.

Two protypes of the car were at the Ineos Grenadiers launch event at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice.

The unveiling featured the team’s four Grand Tour winning champions, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz.

A new team kit from Castelli and newly branded Pinarello DOGMA F12 bike were also revealed at the event.

The event comes on the eve to the Tour de France, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday (August 29).

Defending Tour de France champion Bernal is set to lead Ineos Grenadiers at the race, which will be the first under the new team name.

Ecuador’s Carapaz, the reigning Giro d’Italia champion, will support Bernal’s effort.

Costa Rica’s Andrey Amador, Spain’s Jonathan Castroviejo, Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski, Britain’s Luke Rowe, Russia’s Pavel Sivakov and Dylan van Baarle of The Netherlands’ complete the team.

Froome and Thomas, winners of five of the last seven editions of the Tour de France between them under the team's former sponsor Sky, were not included in the team.

Thomas will be the Ineos Grenadiers team leader at the Giro d’Italia, while Froome will target another victory at the Vuelta a España before leaving to join Team Israel Start-Up Nation for next season.

The riders were introduced at the launch event by BBC presenter Gabby Logan.

The event also featured other sporting stars associated with Ineos, including sailor Sir Ben Ainslie and Kenyan marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge.

Sir Ben is part of Ineos Team UK, which is aiming to challenge for the America’s Cup next year.

Kipchoge achieved the first sub two-hour marathon as part of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge last year.

Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas was also included with Ineos having partnered with Mercedes-AMG Petronas earlier this year.

Patrick Vieira, head coach of Ligue 1 side Nice, also attended the event at the club’s stadium.

Petrochemical company Ineos is owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, reportedly Britain’s richest man.