"My girlfriend looked on in shame" - Laurens De Plus recalls his embarrassing antics at Geraint Thomas's Giro d'Italia after party
Cycling
Laurens de Plus recently extended his deal with the INEOS Grenadiers, keeping the 28-year-old with the British team until 2026. The Belgian will surely be hoping not to replicate scenes from earlier this year however.
Following Geraint Thomas's second placed finish at the 2023 Giro d'Italia, a race in which de Plus himself secured a top-10, general classification finish. The Welshman organised a lavish post-race after party in Monaco as de Plus recalls in conversation with the Domestique Podcast.
"The entire Giro team was invited by 'G' to celebrate our achievements in the Giro. He took us on a boat trip around Monaco where we also went to the club," explains the Belgian. "I tweeted that a paracetamol was desperately needed afterwards, because I had a lot of headaches! We had to catch a flight right afterward. It was a terrible flight back to Belgium, to say the least. My girlfriend looked on in shame."
Thomas himself has recently gone viral after revealing he was drunk 12 out of 14 nights in Cardiff during the off-season. “I texted him about making all the headlines," de Plus laughs. "Mine wasn't that spectacular at all. I did a good mix of exercise, relaxation and the occasional drink, all within the limits of a normal person."
Looking forward de Plus is delighted to be continuing with the INEOS Grenadiers. "There is no better place for me as a driver than INEOS. I was very happy that the team wanted me to stay because that was my main preference," he explains.
And after watching the performances of his former teammate Sepp Kuss in 2023, de Plus, who has a similar role for INEOS has been inspired. "In my dreams I would like to do all three Grand Tours, because they are the best races on the calendar."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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