"I couldn’t finish my career without a proper goodbye could I?" - Geraint Thomas announces special farewell event at Cardiff Castle after final Tour of Britain stage

The 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain will already carry historic significance as the final professional race of Geraint Thomas’ storied career. Now, with his last ever day in the peloton set for Sunday 7 September, Thomas has confirmed there will be a special farewell celebration at Cardiff Castle immediately after the closing stage.

Thomas, who has been the figurehead of Welsh cycling for more than two decades, revealed the plans on social media on Friday, sharing both a message and a short video. He confirmed that 4,000 free tickets will soon be released for the one-off event, where fans will be able to say a final goodbye to the 2018 Tour de France champion on home soil.

“I couldn’t finish my career without a proper goodbye could I? Excited to announce our plans for an event at Cardiff Castle after the final Tour of Britain stage on Sunday 7th September. The details are being kept a surprise from me for now… but I’m told it’s going to be a lot of fun. 4,000 completely free tickets will be available soon and I’ll post the link when they’re available to grab. Hopefully see you all there,” Thomas wrote.

In the accompanying video message, Thomas added: “As you know, the Lloyds Tour of Britain is my last ever race and the final stage into Cardiff will be my last day as a pro bike rider, which is bonkers. But to mark it, I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who's supported me along the way with a free event in Cardiff Castle after the Tour of Britain podium."

"It’s being organised as a bit of a surprise for me as well so I’m in the dark as much as you guys right now, but all I can say is get Sunday the 7th September in your diaries. 4,000 free tickets will be available soon and when they're gone, they're gone. I’ll post the link when they’re live and hopefully we’ll see you all there. Cheers!”

For Thomas, who has flown the Welsh flag across the biggest races in the world, finishing his career on home roads always felt inevitable. The Tour of Britain’s Cardiff finale provides the perfect backdrop for a celebration, with thousands expected on the roadside as the race concludes before the Castle gates.

The additional farewell event is designed as a chance for fans, teammates, and the wider cycling community to share one final moment with a rider who has become one of the most respected figures in the sport. While details of the programme are being deliberately kept from Thomas himself, organisers have promised a memorable send-off.

As the Tour of Britain rolls through its stages in early September, much of the spotlight will inevitably fall on the 38-year-old. But Cardiff – and Cardiff Castle in particular – will serve as the emotional crescendo. For Thomas, it is a rare chance to celebrate not just with those who watched him on television screens around the world, but with the local supporters who have followed his career from its very beginning.

The release of tickets for the event is expected shortly, with demand certain to be high. After 20 years at the top, one of Britain’s greatest cyclists will finally bow out – not on the Champs-Élysées or the Stelvio, but in the heart of his hometown, surrounded by the fans who have ridden every pedal stroke with him.