"I’m looking forward to racing now" - Geraint Thomas returns to Milano-Sanremo for first time since 2016 as retirement tour continues

For the sixth and final time in his illustrious career, Geraint Thomas is set to take on Milano-Sanremo this coming weekend. The former Tour de France winner is in his final season in the professional peloton before retirement, but is nevertheless keen to make an impact this Spring, most notably in support of INEOS Grenadiers' Classics leader, Filippo Ganna.

"I’ve got Catalunya for sure, and then hopefully, potentially, San Remo as well, which is a late addition to the schedule. Hopefully the team might have been selected by the time this pod goes out, but, all being well, I’ll be there," the Welshman explains on the latest episode of his Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast. 

With Thomas set to be joined by a core of Filippo Ganna, Tobias Foss, Ben and Connor Swift, Axel Laurance and Ben Turner, it's likely to be mainly for the Italian powerhouse that the work is done. "When you think of the team now, after the week that Pippo’s had, you’d be hard pressed to not build the whole team around him, just go all in for Pippo," Thomas previews. "The way he’s going, second in Tirreno, climbing like a climber even though he’s 80+ kilos, it’s unbelievable really, the week he’s had."

Although this will be Thomas' sixth time riding the opening Monument of the season, not since back in 2016 has he competed at Milano-Sanremo. With this being his final chance though, the 38-year-old couldn't say no to the call. "I’m looking forward to racing now after being sat here watching Tirreno and Paris-Nice," he explains.

"It helped with the training actually, I was like 'Oh yeah I need to get stuck into this', it was motivation. The boys are riding so well as well, which I’m sure we’ll get onto," Thomas continues. "I’m feeling tired now though, it’s been a big block, chipped off some weight, done some good efforts as well, so I’m gaining power, shrinking, good combination. But just looking forward to getting stuck into some racing."

As touched upon, INEOS have started the 2025 season in flying form, restoring a feel-good factor to the whole squad - Thomas included. "I was watching thinking ‘I wish I was there’, because especially when the boys are riding so well you just want to be there with them, in amongst it, and part of it," he concludes. "I did start thinking 'Jeez, what’s next year going to be like when I’m not racing at all?' Will I see it differently? Which I think I will, because at least now I’m starting to feel a bit fitter and like I can actually do it, whereas next year for sure I’ll be heavier and unfit so I’ll be like 'well, I couldn’t do it anyway'."