"I remember all the Italians sitting there, talking about how I was a bit chunky" - Geraint Thomas recalls career beginnings at Barloworld

One of the riders who's spent the longest time competing in the peloton, Geraint Thomas will begin his 18th professional season in 2024. A career that began in Italy with Barloworld.

“It was the end of 2006. I remember a guy from British Cycling ringing me and saying this new team [Barloworld] is after a British rider, and they’re interested in a young kid,” Thomas recalls to Velo's Origin Stories. “I ended up going to see them in Italy. I can’t remember if I was trying on a pair of shorts or what, but I remember all the Italians sitting there, looking at my legs, talking about how I was a bit chunky, and saying I needed to lose a bit of weight, proper Italian style."

Eleven years before he would become the first and to date only, British-born Tour de France winner, Thomas took on cycling's most illustrious race for the first time as a fresh-faced youngster back in 2007. “It was an amazing three years with Barloworld,” Thomas looks back. “Based in Italy, with an African sponsor, but an Italian-based team. That really set me up for the future.”

Now aged 37 and having recently signed a new, two-year contract extension with the INEOS Grenadiers, Thomas is showing little sign of slowing down. Having finished second at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year and third at the 2022 Tour de France, the Welshman is also more than capable of competing at the top level and Thomas continues to lead the charge for the British-based team.