Geraint Thomas on managing INEOS and even João Almeida signing became a topic - "I certainly wouldn't say no"

INEOS Grenadiers arrived to the Volta ao Algarve with an incredibly strong lineup featuring the likes of Filippo Ganna, two-time Tour de France stage winner Thymen Arensman and the Grand Boucle's breakthroughs Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin. There is another new face in the team, in the car behind that is, with Geraint Thomas making his debut as a sports director and also learning how to manage the men who are now on paper not his teammates anymore.

"I'm still getting used to everything, I had to learn how to use a laptop. I'm involved with sports and that's what I wanted. I had two days sitting at home and I got bored, I have to do something," Thomas said in words to Rádio Renascença.

"Sometimes it's difficult, even talking about the selection of cyclists with them, but I'm not the one who chooses the teams, I only have a say. It's different, I have to put my emotions aside and be honest with the cyclists. Everyone understands the professional side".

Thomas became the Head of Racing for INEOS and has been a very vocal voice to the media since his change of roles. His experience in the peloton makes him an incredibly promising figure on the team car, and he has begun putting in the miles behind the peloton now with a lot of the riders that are set to headline the team's Tour lineup.

"I told them on the bus that it's not mandatory to win now just because they cost so much money, but they are in good shape, they had a good winter." Thomas assures that the big goals of the season lie later, and the 'Algarvia' is being used as preparation towards them.

"We want them to be well and for there to be good communication. We have two reinforcements in the team and there's a lot of learning ahead. We have three cyclists for the GC and that has its challenges, which everyone understands. It's the beginning of a new phase; they will be the 'core' of the team in the coming years".

It will be a challenging task, with the team having several GC options, however facing very tough competition. Thomas was asked about his main rivals, and was also met with a surprising question regarding if he would be happy to have João Almeida in his team.

"I certainly wouldn't say no," he joked. "João has already started well in Valencia, I think it will be a good year for him. Of course, there's Juan Ayuso, [Matthew] Riccitello, Paul Seixas and {Florian] Lipowitz, and I hope our boys also have good legs, there's always a good peloton in the Algarve".

Filippo Ganna will also be testing his legs in the time trial, whilst the team's '7' also includes Laurens de Plus, Kim Heiduk and Bob Jungels. Thomas is no longer on the bike, but knows very well the region and the roads, having won the race on two occasions in the past.

"I've always enjoyed coming to do the Volta ao Algarve, it has a bit of everything. There are some mountains, sprints and the time trial. It's a good place to start the season, it's a more discreet race, the weather is good. Portugal is a very peaceful place," he said.