Geraint Thomas plays down Tour Down Under ambitions - "I’ve been on antibiotics and I’ve missed a few days training"
Cycling
INEOS Grenadiers have travelled to Australia with several possible contenders for the Tour Down Under, but Geraint Thomas is certainly not one of them. The veteran has been sick and isn't positive on his chances of eyeing the GC.
“Just before Christmas I had a bit of an infection. I thought I was over it but it came back a bit. I’ve been on antibiotics and I’ve missed a few days training," Thomas revealed in an interview with Cyclingnews. "It sucks, when it’s nice and sunny in Australia and you’re sat inside."
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Eyeing the Giro d'Italia, Thomas has decided to travel to Australia to start his 2023 campaign, his last in the peloton. He will be playing a supportive role, and several riders will be within a chance of the win: "We’ve got three potential winners or riders who can be up there in Ethan [Hayter], Magnus [Sheffield] and Plappy [Luke Plapp]. We’re looking forward to that.”
Whilst he may not take part in the GC fight, INEOS will be able to rely on national champion Luke Plapp, Ethan Hayter and Magnus Sheffield. “This race has come down to seconds before and so the prologue will be crucial. It mixes the racing up a bit and is a great way to start this race. It’ll be really interesting," the Welshman commented.
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“I just want to get stuck in and enjoy the racing. It’s nice being back out here. As Stuey (Stuart O'Grady, ed.) said, there are some great stages to get stuck into. With the team we’ve got, I’m super excited to be racing with them," he continued.
“I still enjoy it all as much as ever. Having all these young guys on the team helps. They’re super keen and you thrive off their energy. I still love riding my bike and I still love racing and preparing for it all. Whenever you’re up front in races, when you’re competitive, whether you win or not, is a great feeling. I’m all good," Thomas concluded.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Thank you Adelaide, it's great to be back 👏 #TDU
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