Ineos Grenadiers have announced a significant management reshuffle, with retired cycling champion Geraint Thomas stepping into a newly created leadership role just weeks after his final professional race.
From Peloton to Management
The 2018 Tour de France winner has been appointed as the team's new director of racing, marking a natural transition for the Welshman who described the British squad as "his home since day one". Thomas retired from competition at this year's Tour of Britain, concluding a distinguished career that included podium finishes at both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.
His appointment comes during a period of substantial change for Ineos Grenadiers, following the departure of sports directors Zak Dempster and Oli Cookson to the revamped Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team.
Strategic Role in Team Revival
Thomas will work directly with Ineos head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and performance director Scott Drawer, providing crucial input across multiple areas of team development. His responsibilities will include race strategy, rider recruitment, development programmes, and race readiness preparation.
"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," Thomas stated, emphasising his commitment to mentoring young riders.
The team has struggled to maintain its former dominance in Grand Tours, failing to secure a victory since 2021. Thomas himself has previously criticised the team's performance gap compared to rivals including Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel.
Addressing Leadership Concerns
Brailsford's return to the Tour de France last July saw him acknowledge he had "a lot of catching up to do" following his involvement with Manchester United. This admission highlighted the leadership vacuum that Thomas's appointment aims to address.
The Welsh rider's extensive experience – spanning Grand Tour podium finishes at the 2024 Giro d'Italia where he placed third, stage racing expertise, and one-day racing knowledge – provides the peloton insight the team has notably lacked in recent seasons.
Thomas had previously expressed concerns about the team's management structure, describing it as resembling "a coalition government" and noting that operations were "a lot more straightforward with Dave at the top."
Brailsford emphasised the value of Thomas's appointment: "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."
The restructuring represents a decisive move by Ineos Grenadiers to reclaim their position at cycling's pinnacle, leveraging Thomas's proven strategic understanding and respected presence within the sport.
