Geraint Thomas may be heading towards his final season in the peloton, however there is still time to change his mind. The INEOS Grenadiers rider admits that he may have another season in the bunch depending on the upcoming months.
“I’m not ruling out doing another year because I’m still enjoying it and let’s face it, it’s not a bad life, is it? Why end things prematurely if I’m still enjoying it and still prepared to do it," Thomas said in a press conference ahead of this week's Tour Down Under where he's starting his season.
The former Tour de France winner signed a two-year deal with INEOS Grenadiers which is set to end this season. Surprisingly, he bounced back to his best form last summer, winning the Tour de Suisse and riding to third place at the Tour de France behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. This showed his capacity to still ride with the very best, and may have switched his thoughts towards retirement.
“The enjoyment is the main thing and you’re only really competitive when you enjoy it. If I can keep making the sacrifices, why not? I would like to decide, say, by March. If it is my last season, I want to enjoy it and make the most of it. I also want to plan for the future," he explains.
The Welshman is a pro rider ever since 2007 and has seen several generations fade. He seemed to be on the same path but last year turned the tide in his favour. He is having his final contract year, but is undecided on what he will do at the end of the year. “It depends if I re-sign. My contract is up this year. If I do the Tour this year depends on how the Giro goes. It’s all up in the air to be honest," he says. Thomas will lead INEOS at the Giro d'Italia this May.
"The team is keen for me to continue and would like me to. I wouldn’t really go anywhere else. It depends on how they see my role, the salary and what’s expected of me. As long as all those boxes are wicked for me and the team, I don’t see why it won’t happen."
Currently he's at the Tour Down Under, where he is expected to play a supportive role for some of the team's developing talents. Magnus Sheffield, Ethan Hayter and Luke Plapp are all contenders for the overall classification. However Thomas thinks bigger at this time in his career.
“You’re lucky to retire on your own terms as a sports person. That’d be great. Two more years does seem quite long. I need to sit down with my family and talk about it all. I certainly won’t be racing in 2026. Physically everyone can race on. It’s if you lose the love for it or the pull of your family. It that’s greater, you stop. It’s an individual thing," he concluded.
Stage one is complete at #TourDownUnder. @MagnusSheffield was caught up in a crash inside the final kilometre. He was able to cross the line, retaining a strong place on GC, and is now being evaluated. @kimheiduk led the team home with 15th in a hectic finish.
