Geraint Thomas is back! Tour de France champion officially returns to INEOS Grenadiers as new Director of Racing

The next chapter of Geraint Thomas’ storied career has begun — and it brings him straight back into the heart of the organisation where he made his name.

On Wednesday morning the confirmed that the Welshman is officially stepping into a newly created role as the team’s Director of Racing, signalling both a significant internal reshuffle and a long-term commitment to rebuilding from within.

Thomas, one of the most decorated riders of his generation and an ever-present figure since the squad’s earliest days, now moves from the peloton to senior management.

He will work directly with Sir Dave Brailsford, Dr Scott Drawer and the wider leadership group, shaping everything from race strategy to rider development and recruitment.

For a rider whose career includes a Tour de France victory, multiple Grand Tour podiums and two Olympic gold medals, the shift to a strategic leadership role feels like a seamless evolution — and Thomas himself framed it exactly that way.

“This team has been my home since day one, and stepping into this role feels like a natural next step,” he said in the official announcement. “I’ve learnt so much from the people around me – fellow riders and staff – and I now want to continue building on our incredible past success into the future.

“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. The Grenadiers will continue to race with purpose, humility and a commitment to excellence – and I’m excited to help shape that future.”

His appointment reinforces the team’s long-term strategy to promote internal leaders, tapping into riders who understand not only the culture but also the high-performance processes that once made the squad the dominant Grand Tour force of its era.

Sir Dave Brailsford wasted no time highlighting why Thomas is the right figure to help redirect the team’s sporting strategy. “Geraint typifies what it means to be a Grenadier. He has lived and breathed elite performance throughout his career. He always set himself very ambitious goals and invariably went on to achieve them,” Brailsford said.

“He 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 fact that he has stayed so humble and always maintained a great sense of humour are also great attributes to bring to his new role.”

Thomas has been central to countless defining moments in the team’s history, from its Tour de France dominance to major stage-race breakthroughs. His transition into leadership signals a renewed emphasis on identity, continuity and rediscovering the formula that once allowed the squad to rule Grand Tours.

And for fans still feeling the nostalgia of his Tour triumph and his many near-misses in recent years, the message is clear: Geraint Thomas never really left — but now he’s back in a way that could reshape the team’s future.