"Obviously we lack a sprinter" - Geraint Thomas urges INEOS Grenadiers to sign 11-time Grand Tour stage winner
Cycling
The start of the 2025 World Tour season is less than a day away at time of writing, but that does not mean the peloton is done with their transfer business just yet. According to Geraint Thomas, the INEOS Grenadiers should be looking at signing one rider in particular.
The experienced Welshman leads the INEOS Grenadiers at the season-opening Tour Down Under in Australia this week, and whilst speaking to the press ahead of the first stage on the 21st of February, the topic of transfers were discussed and especially the rumoured INEOS interest in Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan. The 11-time Grand Tour stage winner's future looks incredibly uncertain at the moment after being left out of Team Jayco AlUla's roster for the 2025 campaign and with INEOS still having three open spots available in their 30-rider squad, could Ewan be one of the riders brought into the fold?
As mentioned, far from shutting down these rumours, Thomas responded excitedly, pouring accelerant on the flames of transfer speculation. "I know him well. He's a good mate, and if he did come here, that would be great," the former Tour de France winner says of potential INEOS interest in Ewan. "Because obviously we lack a sprinter, and 40% of races end in a sprint, don't they? So it would be handy to have. Hopefully it happens, but I've just heard rumours, so we'll see."
In terms of his own ambitions being in Australia this week, Thomas is just looking to enjoy himself as the final year of his professional career begins in earnest. "It's important, but it's not the be-all and end-all. There are 10 months of the season," he previews. "We started well last year with Jhonny - I think it is important to start well, of course, and we're all motivated. But it's just how we go for the next few months, really. Magnus Sheffield, Michal Kwiatkowski, all the boys are motivated and strong, and I'll do my bit to help them."
"I'd love to win a race again, anything, to be honest," Thomas concludes, looking a little further ahead. "I'd love to go to the Tour [de France] again, possibly trying to go for a stage. The GC, not so much anymore - and just be a good, solid teammate for the boys as well ... try and take some opportunities and just enjoy it."
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