"If you’re going for the win, you can be satisfied" - Geraint Thomas praises Vauquelin and reveals INEOS is actually aiming for the overall classification
CyclingWednesday, 08 July 2026 at 15:18
Netcompany INEOS are going for stage wins at the Tour de France but not fully. Geraint Thomas has revealed that one of its riders is actually going for the overall classification, whilst the team has thus far prioritized stage wins.
“Not bad. If you’re going for the win, you can be satisfied. I don’t think it was an easy day for a lot of people. I’m glad I was in the mix for the win," Geraint Thomas said in words to Cyclism'Actu. "I fought hard. I didn’t quite feel at my best yet, but things were going better".
The British team had Egan Bernal make his move on stage 3, but a puncture took him out of the breakaway. With the GC men ruling over the opening days of the race, INEOS' men have gone down the overall classification and the team's second place in Barcelona on Saturday has dwindled.
The team has several cards to play and on the fourth day of racing, in the Pyrenees, it was Kévin Vauquelin who was active and representing the team in a breakaway of almost three dozen men.
Kévin Vauquelin improving form
“It’s great to see Kevin competing at the front. He’s bounced back after falling ill following the Dauphiné. It was never about the general classification for him. He just had to take it day by day… He’s not under pressure to perform on specific stages.”
Vauquelin was part of the winning group in Foix and tried to surprise with an early sprint, but the terrain didn't favour him and simply became too much to overrule Lidl-Trek's power.
“Today we didn’t force him to join the lead group. I think it’s good for his morale to be there. His form is improving, and now we have a few quieter days ahead. He has a huge heart; he gives so much every day. It’s great to see".
Vauquelin was on the move during stage 4 of the Tour de France
Read also
Thymen Arensman going for the overall classification with INEOS
The British team claimed to go all-in for stage wins at the Tour, but that is not quite the case. Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman have come to the Tour following the Giro d'Italia where they already aimed for GC, and the Dutchman is doing so again.
Thomas himself confirmed. “I think it will open doors and give me confidence. Is a general classification finish still possible? I’d rather focus on the stages. You can experience so much more that way. And we already have Thymen [Arensman], who’s here for the general classification," he explained.
Arensman sits 20th in the overall classification, but already over three minutes behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard - despite the absence of a mountain stage. For the sprints Dorian Godon will have his first chance today, although the former French champion will be favoured on the hillier days.
“We don’t have a pure sprinter. Of course, Dorian [Godon] is fast, but not as fast as riders like Phlipsen. Anything can happen in a sprint," the Welshman argued. "We haven’t had one yet. I think all the teams involved will do everything they can to win. It’ll be tough for us, but there are still many stages to go".
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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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