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Geraint Thomas, the popular 2018 Tour de France champion and senior INEOS Grenadier, has agreed a two-year contract extension with the team, to the end of the 2025 season.
The new deal will see Thomas’ time at the team span an incredible 16 years, cementing his status as one of cycling’s most respected riders and an icon of British sport.
Thomas impressed earlier this year in Italy where, despite a disrupted build-up due to injury, he narrowly missed a maiden victory at the Giro d’Italia. He also led the Grenadiers at La Vuelta in September where he suffered several early crashes but still fought all the way to Madrid to complete his second Grand Tour of 2023.
“I am really delighted to extend my time as an INEOS Grenadier. I still just love riding my bike – racing and training with the boys – every single aspect of it,” Thomas said.
“Although you ‘never say never’, in my head this is my last contract – but I know that I still have two more big years in me. And I wouldn’t have continued in a different team.
“This team understands me and, importantly, knows what it takes to achieve success. I have childhood mates here – Luke and Swifty as riders and Stannard now in management, and I’ve known Rod since 2003. This really does feel like home.
“We’re an ambitious group and have some big goals ahead. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in again and want to help the team continue to progress.”
Thomas, who has finished on every step of the podium at the Tour de France, is one of the most experienced riders in the professional peloton. During the course of his career, he has demonstrated his incredible versatility and is a key leader in the Grenadiers.
“I want to continue to be highly competitive in anything really; maybe look at going to the Classics again or ride GC in Grand Tours or help whoever is going to be the next guy coming through, but I just want to have a positive impact on the team.
“I’m at that stage where I’m still hungry to perform but at the same time, I am happy to help the team. I want to try and help us push forward to get back to the very top of the sport.”
The Welshman’s hugely impressive road-racing palmares includes victories at Paris-Nice, Criterium du Dauphine, Tour de Suisse, E3 Harelbeke, Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta, Bayern-Rundfahrt and Commonwealth Games gold.
He is also a double Olympic champion on the track, having won gold medals at the Beijing and London Games.
“The support throughout my career has been amazing, not only from the fans back home but also from America, Australia and all over Europe. That atmosphere on the road is incredible, it’s a huge part of why I love the sport.
“It’s just been an amazing career so far and hopefully it can continue in that way,” said Thomas.
Rod Ellingworth, Deputy Team Principal, said: “We’re thrilled that Geraint’s decided to ride on for another two years as a Grenadier. ‘G’ is such an integral part of our team’s set-up and rider culture. Not only has he won some of the biggest races in the world, but he’s also shown he’s a true champion off the bike, through the crucial role he plays across the wider team and with the younger riders.
“We know that his ambition is to race with the best and we saw this year just how close he came at the Giro d’Italia. He then had some bad luck at La Vuelta which ruled him out of the running but nevertheless fought through to finish with true grit and determination. It was classic G and was still inspiring to watch.
“The team’s ambition is to again stand on the top step of the Tour de France podium and Geraint is going to play an integral part in realising that goal as we bring through a crop of young and exciting talent at the INEOS Grenadiers.”