LONDON — Geraint Thomas, the previous Tour de France champion and dual Olympic gold medalist in track cycling for Great Britain, publicly declared on Monday that this will be his last year as a professional cyclist.
Thomas, who has spent nearly two decades in the sport, has evolved from a loyal team member into a capable leader. He expressed his intention to focus on the Tour de France this summer while riding for the Ineos Grenadiers team. At 38 years old, he mentioned to the BBC that he aims to support the team’s goals and possibly aim for a stage win while enjoying the race he previously conquered in 2018.
“From a young age, I always dreamed of competing in the Tour and being in the Olympics; winning was another dream altogether, and achieving it feels surreal,” Thomas shared during an appearance on BBC Breakfast. He acknowledged that with his decision now made official, he finds himself reflecting on his career. “When you are immersed in the routine, it’s a relentless cycle and you sometimes forget to truly appreciate it. While enjoying it in the moment, you rarely take the time to pause and reflect, and I believe this year will bring some of that.”
For many years, Thomas was perceived as a sociable “party boy” who enjoyed his share of pints while watching rugby. However, his sustained performance at an elite level highlights his commitment and balanced lifestyle. Dave Brailsford, the architect behind Britain’s triumphs in multiple major competitions, described Thomas as “a true fighter.”
Hailing from the suburbs of Cardiff, Wales, Thomas embarked on bike racing at just 10 years old, and his exceptional talent was quickly recognized. Rod Ellingworth, the performance director at Team Sky during Thomas’s Tour victory, recounted first encountering Thomas when he was around 13 or 14 years old. “He joined our program at 17, and it was clear that he was exceptionally gifted,” Ellingworth noted.
Thomas’s initial successes were on the track. The young cyclist was part of the British pursuit team that competed at the world championships in 2006, and he clinched his first Olympic gold medal in 2008 alongside fellow cyclist Bradley Wiggins. By the 2012 London Olympics, he had secured a second gold in the same event and shifted his focus towards road cycling.
His early achievements on the road include a victory in the Paris-Roubaix junior race in 2004. Initially, he aimed to excel in one-day classics before participating in the 2007 Tour, where he made a significant impression as the youngest cyclist at the event, despite finishing 140th. Thomas went on to wear the white jersey designated for the best young rider during one stage of the 2010 Tour.
Thomas’s potential as a Grand Tour contender became evident in 2016 when he secured victory in the Paris-Nice race, beating two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador. This triumph was a pivotal moment in his career, even though he faced challenges the following season, which included withdraws from both the Tour and the Giro due to crashes. Despite his difficulties, he donned the yellow jersey after winning the opening time trial at the Tour before sustaining a collarbone injury.
In 2018, when Thomas won the Tour, he initially set out to assist teammate Chris Froome in his quest for a fifth victory. However, after Froome’s early-stage crash and subsequent struggles in the Pyrenees, Thomas’s own remarkable form led him to clinch consecutive stage wins in the Alps and make history as the first British rider to triumph at Alpe d’Huez.
Reflecting on his achievements, Thomas stated, “Beijing was monumental for me; it was my first Olympics, and winning gold was incredible. However, the Tour significantly changed my life, bringing recognition worldwide. The yellow jersey is iconic. You can go anywhere in the world and it’s recognized as a symbol of cycling history. Being part of that legacy and winning it makes me feel truly fortunate.”
