"He's going to stop at some point" - INEOS strategy revolves around Pogacar as Geraint Thomas demands riders believe they can reach top level
Cycling
Geraint Thomas believes that although Tadej Pogacar will stop cycling at point or another, his Netcompany INEOS team should believe that, while the Slovenian continues to improve, they can continue to push the envelope in pursuit of success.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider's stratospheric performances have left the majority of cycling teams and riders behind as he shatters records and sweeps up major honours. The Welshman knows all too well what it's like to follow his wheel.
And while his days of chasing Pogacar on two wheels are over, the game has moved to four wheels for Thomas as he completed his first full season as the team's Director of Racing - tasked with helping the team close the gap and someday best him at Grand Tours.
In a year of learnings for the 2018 yellow jersey, Thomas quickly adjusted to life in retirement as he builds his support network around managing the British team on a daily basis.
"It's still the principles of just running a team and how you go about making decisions," he told Velora Cycling.
"Not shooting from the hip all the time. Making sure you think things through and you speak to the right people and you've got to trust the right people."
Thomas reflects on moving to management
That doesn't mean retirement and a transition to a small leadership team has been easy. There's been occasions where 'G' finds himself unable to have the same relationship with riders and staff he was once peers with.
"Hardest thing for me is, I'm mates with a lot of the riders still, or some guys, or DSs. If there's something happening but I can't speak to them, where before you could, it was just a bit like, shit, I can't open up to this guy.
"If there's something on my mind, it's been like, who'd you go to now, you know? The people you can speak to gets smaller and smaller the further up you go almost."
Pushing boundaries has been the theme of cycling over the past decade as the sport's evolution has seen a host of massive gains in nutrition, technology and preparation. He thinks that his INEOS team riders need to be intent on improving with every year.
INEOS aim to improve with Pogacar's level as the goal
"I say this to the team all the time, doesn't matter if it's, oh, you're close to your best, or I'm matching what I did last year. You got to be better. You got to be striving to do more and more. And that's what I was always like.
"I think we've got to always believe and always keep trying to be the best. I think Pog can continue to get better. But why can't everybody else? And then who knows how much better they can get?"
His attention then turned to Pogacar, who he believes is still improving as the years go on. In the face of his domination already, he wants to guide INEOS up the steps towards challenging him while he's still competitive, or at least being the next best in line should the Slovenian retire or see his form diminish.
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He added: "Certainly next year you're looking at it thinking it's tough, but otherwise we'd all just stop. You need to believe that you can build up to something, and there's always going to be someone out there.
"He's going to stop at some point, and we want to be in the position to be there or be competitive when he's still competitive,” he said. “But certainly once he stops, be there ready to take it."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- the headline is poorly written too. it makes it sound like their plan is to simply wait until he stops.mij13-11-2026
- It doesnt take a genius to understand that Pogi is 1 level above and Pogi is younger that Jonas, so Jonas will not win under ordinary circumstances. Pogi has to crack hard for Jonas to win. It doesn't matter whether you defend Jonas or not , facts remain facts. Jonas himself says his numbers are better than 2022/2023, so Jonas is more or less optimized and we are just see the stochastic variation due to other factors. I think he will retire along with Pedersen in WC denmarkabstractengineer13-11-2026
- They only raced each other during the 2026 Tour, but here's a few metrics to look at. Stage 3 (Granollers to Les Angles): Pogačar won the stage, finishing 2 seconds ahead of Vingegaard (2nd). Del Toro finished 24 seconds behind Stage 6 (Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre / Col du Tourmalet): Pogačar won solo, Vingegaard finished 2nd (losing 2:38), and Del Toro finished 3rd (at +2:57, finishing 19 seconds behind Vingegaard). Here, Jonas Vingegaard outclimbed Isaac del Toro by 19 seconds on the mountain stageawp13-11-2026
- your clinging to the past. Jonas was dropped by del toro many times last year and jonas never managed a climbing numers del toro did in dauphine last year -entire year. Trend is also evident theres no discussion your living in the past, its beent he same with jonas for many years now and only developing, meanwhile del toro is rising and developing greatly. This is all obvious stuff and im not even a del toro fan. No point discussing numbers or this i suspect you dont watch much now but rather think its 2022 still cause this aint hard.miguel13-11-2026
- We can go through metrics if you like, Del Toro, who I do admire and support, is not on the same level as Jonas just yet. You will see that in early 2027 if they have any crossover races. I do hope they both race the Giro. You are correct though, Jonas is getting older and will not be able to hand on much longer. I see 2027 as a good year for him. Obviously behind Tadej though.awp13-11-2026
- What wins? Are you LA operating under a pseudonym?mij13-11-2026
- My point is this - Tadej, Remco, Seixas are all the outliers. Many riders don’t hit their peak until 28. It’s way too early to write him off. And the pogi slo guy that hates him - he’s also immature. Ayuso needs time.mij13-11-2026
- Then you need to use ur eyes or head if you have cause del toro already dropped jonas two times and beat him in tdf stages already this year.. Del toro climbed(dauphine) better numbers than jonas did all year too. So ur feelings and wishful thinking doesnt amtter del toro himself has already surpassed jonas infact just facts. Its also very evident for anyone objective that Jonas is declining alot, its just the truth and super obvious.miguel13-11-2026
- None of those victories stand, so there's that,wrsty13-11-2026
- No surprise there; it is British Sycling, yes, with an S
Rafionain-Glas12-11-2026
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