Geraint Thomas will bring his decorated career to a close at the 2025 men's Tour of Britain, which begins in Suffolk on Tuesday. The six-day race starts in Woodbridge and concludes next Sunday in Cardiff, the Welshman's hometown, providing a sentimental end to a 19-season professional career.
Thomas, who won the Tour de France in 2018, said he felt fortunate to retire on his own terms. Reflecting on his roots, he told the BBC that without the Maindy velodrome in Cardiff, he might never have taken up cycling. The final stage in Cardiff will see the wheel turn full circle for the 38-year-old.
The race director, Rod Ellingworth, a former coach of Thomas at British Cycling and Team Sky, has helped shape a route that grows tougher as it approaches Wales. Early stages feature finishes in Southwold, Stowmarket, Ampthill and Burton Dassett, before two days of climbing in south Wales, including the Tumble and Caerphilly Mountain.
Thomas will wear a special red jersey featuring a Welsh dragon and a sketch by his young son, Macs, marking the occasion. He called it his most meaningful jersey and acknowledged the final stage will be emotional. His career highlights include Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals, a memorable Alpe d'Huez win, and victories at the Criterium du Dauphine and Paris-Nice.
The race also features Remco Evenepoel, Julian Alaphilippe, Oscar Onley, Matthew Brennan, Fred Wright, Ben Wiggins, Joe Blackmore and Tao Geoghegan Hart. While no obvious British successor to Thomas's 2018 Tour triumph has emerged, his resilience and humour endure. Asked by Jonas Vingegaard if he was happy to start his final Tour, Thomas replied: "Mate, I should have stopped last year."
