Geraint Thomas has been appointed as the new director of racing at Ineos Grenadiers, just weeks after retiring from competition at this year’s Tour of Britain.
"I've called this team home from the very beginning, and stepping into this role feels like a natural next step," Thomas stated.
The move by Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France champion, was widely expected and comes after a major management reshuffle at Ineos Grenadiers.
As per the team's announcement, Thomas’ freshly established senior position will see him working closely with Ineos sports chief Dave Brailsford and performance director Scott Drawer.
His responsibilities will include contributing key insights on race strategy, rider recruitment, development and preparation for events.
Thomas, who last finished on a Grand Tour podium at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, finished third behind Tadej Pogacar and rode this year’s Tour de France.
He brings a blend of multi-day events and single-day competition knowledge.
"I’m passionate about helping the next generation come through, to share my know-how and keep pushing the team forward towards our mission of winning Grand Tours again," Thomas expressed.
His tactical intelligence, experience and understanding of the pack will fill a void in know-how that had become evident lately.
The British team found it hard to challenge for top spots in Grand Tours in the past few seasons.
Former Grenadiers team principal Dave Brailsford, making his return to the Tour de France, admitted last July that he had "a lot of catching up to do" after his time with Manchester United.
Ineos Grenadiers have not won a Grand Tour since 2021 and the once-dominant team has been criticised by Thomas himself and former staff.
They noted the team was lagging behind four-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar and his rivals, Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel.
"The team isn't at its desired level, nor where they need to be and the distance is significant," performance expert Dan Bigham remarked, following his 2024 departure announcement.
Thomas’ new position was initially discussed last year when he shared with reporters that the squad's leadership resembled a "coalition government".
He noted that "it was a lot more straightforward with Dave at the top. Everything was well-defined."
Brailsford’s long-standing working relationship with Thomas played a vital role in bringing him onboard.
"Geraint understands what's required, how to handle the ups and downs of top-level competition and his eagerness to pass this on and mentor others is a great asset for the team," Brailsford said.
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