BREAKING: Geraint Thomas confirms retirement from professional cycling
CyclingMonday, 17 February 2025 at 14:22
After months of speculation, it has now been confirmed that
2025 will be Geraint Thomas’ final season as a professional cyclist.
The 2018 Tour de France champion shared the news on Twitter,
writing, “Thought it was time we made it official. Yes, this will be my last
year in the peloton. It's not been a bad run eh? Never in my wildest dreams did
I imagine being a pro for 19 years. There'll be lots of time to reflect but,
before then, I've got some big races to prep for.”
Over the course of his career, Thomas has secured three Tour
de France stage victories, two Olympic gold medals on the track, and a
runner-up finish behind Primoz Roglic at the 2023 Giro d'Italia.
“Since I was a kid I dreamt of riding the Tour and being
part of the Olympics and winning was obviously a dream as well, but to achieve
that was just nuts," the INEOS Grenadiers rider told BBC Breakfast.
"I think now the decision is official, you do start to
reflect because when you're in it, it's just one thing after the next, year
after year, so you don't really appreciate it. I guess at the time you enjoy it
but I don't think you sit back and reflect and think, so there will be a bit of
that this year."
This summer, the 38-year-old will focus on the Tour de
France, where he is expected to take on a supporting role while also aiming for
a stage win and making the most of the experience in the race he triumphed in
back in 2018.
"Beijing was massive, my first Olympics and winning
gold there," Thomas said. "But the Tour's what changed my life, being
recognised all over the place.
"I was in Alcatraz and some dude recognised me. I think
that's when you know it went up a level.
"The yellow jersey is iconic. You go anywhere in the
world and people will know the yellow jersey, how it signifies cycling and its
history. So to be a part of that history and to win it, I just pinch
myself."
Reflecting on his decision to retire, he explained,
"This is my 19th year as a professional and I didn't want to do one year
too many and be the grumpy guy in the team.
"I'm still really enjoying it, I still feel competitive
and the last year has been good, but I think the timing's right. With my
family, I'm looking forward to moving back to Cardiff.
"There's stuff I think I'll miss, the racing, being
here in Monaco, but it will be nice just to be around more and to take on a new
challenge."
As he looks ahead to life beyond professional cycling,
Thomas is keen to stay motivated. "Having options is always good," he
said. "I need a purpose. Since I was about 17 or 18, I've always been
working towards a goal.
"To not be working towards anything would be nice for
maybe a month, then I'll just go crazy, so I'll definitely have to have some
goals.
"I want to do an Ironman. I only run two or three times
a year, so that's something that needs a bit of work! It's about challenging
myself in different ways."
Beyond sporting challenges, he is also looking forward to
spending more time with loved ones. "That's the main thing, just being
around more and not missing events - birthdays, weddings, parties or
whatever," he added. "I'm looking forward to that side of
things."
Following his final Tour de France and a summer of racing,
Thomas plans to conclude his career at the Tour of Britain in September.
"It would be epic if that happens. I haven't really
thought about it much, but when I do start thinking about it, it's going to be
emotional. Maybe I'll shed a tear or two," he admitted.
"It would be some way to finish, whether it's Cardiff
or wherever, the Tour of Britain as the final race. It's full circle, isn't it?
Finishing my career back home."
Before then, his 2025 season begins on Wednesday at the Tour
of the Algarve, followed by an appearance at Tirreno-Adriatico.
Thought it was time we made it official. Yes, this will be my last year in the peloton 🤝 It's not been a bad run eh? Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine being a pro for 19 years. There'll be lots of time to reflect but, before then, I've got some big races to prep for 👀 pic.twitter.com/7HTOBuEnXx
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) February 17, 2025
claps 8visitors 8
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He and Pogacar both have taken insane risks on descents, particularly in time trials. I have to imagine most cycling fans would be happy to see them back off a bit.
Barney01-05-2025 - Only when the titans collide will it be interesting. MSR, PR,Flanders. LBL there was no competition. TDF Jonas will be thereabstractengineer01-05-2025
- I dont think its just that. It is also that the women's team lacked a serious contender for the Grand tours. Aside from Demi. Lotte, Elisa, kasia there are every few GT contenders for women. Its logical that those who are GT contender would get priority i resources. Someone like Olav is also feeling the same.abstractengineer01-05-2025
- 'The man from Pinto won the Giro on two occasions (in three he went home with the maglia rosa, but one of them was taken away from him because of Operación Puerto)' this is incorrect, Operacion Puerto occurred in 2006, Contador was stripped of the 2011 Giro title due to the clenbuterol case at the 2010 Tour de France.swaithe7101-05-2025
- Only an accident or sickness can prevent Pogi from winning yellow this year - my opinion.Ride197401-05-2025
- "Remco wasn't angry afterwards, rather disappointedThere wasn't much to be done about Pogacar anyway" These statements show that the team did not care lack o motivationabstractengineer01-05-2025
- The Richard Mille watch on his wrist, worth around 250 Thou dollars, is there by virtue of UAE Team Emirates being a partner of the watch company. MVDP is also is an endorser. I also learned that Mathieu was driving around on a Lamborghini, of which he was also an endorser. When you get paid for endorsing a product, it is more an acknowledgment of your star status, rather than personal taste. Tadej's convo on watches with Geraint is probably shared experience.FredMan01-05-2025
- Yes, but it seems fans of such toys, like SUVs think that status is appreciated by far more people than is the case. I think very few are actually impressed by anyone feeling the need to show status this way, it reveals insecurity more than anything else. At “best” it allows for peer regrouping in the safety of a bland homogenous uncritical fake culture. Then I prefer to help parents in law with financial difficulties ;-)Mistermaumau01-05-2025
- There's nothing like showing off your status with an oversized, overpriced watch that makes your wrist bleed when you ride over the cobbles.
santiagobenites30-04-2025 - Yeah 2 syllables is probably going to put your breathing into the red, keeping conversation to strict yes/no answers and grunts for agreement or acknowledgment is the trick ;-) Kind of disappointing to discover the subject of discussion was an exclusive (I suppose) watch. What is it with guys with leftover cash that they feel a watch will do for them? Haven’t worn one since mobile phones, as outdated as cuff-links, which are actually way more classy than the oversized watch models that became the thing over the last 10-15y, looks as silly as a SUV in a traditional parking space.Mistermaumau30-04-2025
So does this mean that he's officially making it official now?
Valid until he announces the by now almost obligatory come-back.
LOL
If he DOESN’T announce his comeback before 2030 I will grow my sideburns, again.
It’s actually partially thanks to Geraint I have my current life and another son. I bet some guys I’d grow sideburns if he won the Tour and though she hated them on me, it kind of influenced her to explore if there was more to me than my awful retro look.
Classic rider AND he got the 'tour also 👍