Geraint Thomas has been appointed as the new director of racing at Ineos Grenadiers, weeks after retiring from competition at this year's Tour of Britain. The Welshman, who won the Tour de France in 2018, said: 'This team has been my home since day one, and stepping into this role feels like a natural next step.'
The move comes after a major management reshuffle at Ineos Grenadiers, with sports directors Zak Dempster and Oli Cookson moving to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Thomas's newly created leadership role will see him work closely with head of sport Dave Brailsford and performance director Scott Drawer, providing input on race strategy, rider recruitment, development and race readiness.
Thomas, who last finished on a Grand Tour podium at the 2024 Giro d'Italia in third place, has a blend of stage racing and one-day racing experience. He said: 'I'm passionate about helping the next generation come through, to pass on that experience and keep pushing the team forward towards our mission of winning Grand Tours again.'
Ineos Grenadiers have not won a Grand Tour since 2021 and have struggled to compete for podium positions in recent seasons. Brailsford, returning to the Tour de France in July, admitted he had 'a lot of catching up to do' after his stint at Manchester United. Aerodynamics guru Dan Bigham, who left the team in 2024, said: 'Ineos are not where they want to be, nor where they need to be and the gap is not small.'
Thomas's appointment was first mooted in 2024 when he described the team's management as 'like a coalition government' and said it was 'a lot more straightforward with Dave at the top'. Brailsford said: 'Geraint knows what the process takes, how to deal with the highs and lows of elite sport and his willingness to now share this and mentor others to do the same is a great asset for the team.'
