Geraint Thomas lines up at Milano-Sanremo for the last time and talks Tour de France 2027 in Britain: “I’ll be there, just maybe with a beer!”
Cycling
For the first time since 2016, Geraint Thomas is back at
Milano-Sanremo, and this time, it’s with a sense of finality. The British
veteran, now in the final year of his professional career, is lining up for one
last tilt at the first monument of the season. It wasn’t even part of the
original plan.
Speaking before the start, Thomas admitted that his
appearance at Sanremo in 2025 was something of a late decision.
“Yeah, I think someone told me 2016, so a few years now. But
yeah, looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather continues to improve and
it'll be a nice day.”
Asked by Cycling Pro Net whether returning to Sanremo was
something he’d always wanted in his final season, Thomas explained the change
of plans.
“It wasn’t part of the program, to be honest. It was only a
couple weeks ago after someone was like, ‘Ah, we need to come to Sanremo,’ and
yeah, I just [thought], yeah, why not? Obviously it’s a massive race and a race
I’ve always loved doing.”
Now, his role is clear, support the team, and in particular,
help one of the day’s favourites stay fresh for the finale.
“To help people now today is... yeah, those things don’t
come around too often, you know? Having a real favourite to win such a big
race. So yeah, we’ll do what we can and what will be, will be.”
So what’s the strategy for Thomas in his final Sanremo?
Provide Filippo Ganna with as much support as possible, as he bids to become
the first Italian winner since Nibali in 2018.
“I’ll try and get people to the Poggio as easy for him as
possible and then it’s just the legs. It’s just... yeah, hopefully he can
follow the attacks, be there in the finish and who knows then? I think, you
know, he’s quick and he can... at the end of 300K I think he can beat anyone.
So yeah, it’s all to race for.”
This week’s announcement that the Tour de France will start
in the UK in 2027 was met with excitement, but it won’t be enough to tempt
Thomas into reconsidering retirement.
“Obviously I’d heard that it was likely to come,” Thomas
said. “But yeah, two more years is a bit long, so no... hopefully I’ll be
there, just be maybe with a beer and just watching on the side of the road.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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