"Otherwise... we just sit back, moan and crumble and give up" - Geraint Thomas preaches INEOS positivity ahead of Tour de France final week
CyclingTuesday, 21 July 2026 at 14:00
It's been far from a memorable Tour de France for Netcompany INEOS and Director of Racing Geraint Thomas. With the team missing out of team time trial success on the opening day, and injuries and illness affecting the team selection close to the race, the British team arrived at the race intent on picking up stage wins.
With a team of all-rounders and climbers, INEOS have been active in breakaways, but notably have suffered a series of punctures at La Grand Boucle coming at key moments for riders such as Kevin Vauquelin, Thymen Arensman and Egan Bernal among others. With the ferocious pace of attacks and scarcity of opportunities, the team are without a win.
As the clock ticks on La Grand Boucle, Thomas and INEOS know that just six opportunities remain to get a spot on the top step of the podium. Beginning with Tuesday's time trial on the Lake Geneva coast.
An undulating course features a climb early in the stage, but the team arrive with specialists in the discipline including Josh Tarling and Filippo Ganna. Although admitting the course suits some of the more lightweight general classification climbers, Thomas sees an opportunity for stage honours.
"Well yeah, why not? You know I think we got some great time trialists," Thomas said in a Q&A video released by INEOS.
INEOS have Tarling and Ganna for time trial
"Obviously we've got specialists in Josh [Tarling] and Pipo [Ganna], the course isn't suited to them, I think it suits the GC or the GC guys that can TT well.
Noting that the climbing effort should be around 18 minutes for riders, Tarling and Ganna's higher weight could play a factor in Thomas' eyes.
"It suits them a lot better because it's like a 18 minute climb, it's not steep, four or five percent but yeah it's more suited to you know a Pog, Sexais, Del Toro, Remco, you know once it goes uphill it's in their favour but you know we're going to give it a good crack and see what we can do."
Reflecting on the fact that there's six days remaining - three mountain stages, the time trial and two hilly days - Thomas noted how difficult it is to win at the Tour. For success, he needs to get riders into a breakaway, that breakaway to work well together and then his man deliver the goods.
Netcompany INEOS riders
Thomas remains positive
He continued: "I think there's six more days, the boys have got decent legs I think it's just coming up with the right tactics for each day and strength in numbers is what's key.
"I think it's hard to win alone a road stage so I think having numbers is key as well and really working well as a team and a unit and that's helping boys get into the break and then those boys that are in the break riding well together to finish off, so definitely confident that the boys can still perform and yeah I'm looking forward to it."
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After a rocky opening few days, Thomas has backed his riders to stay positive and not roll over to the unrelenting pressure and intensity of the race.
"The way the boys have reacted and they've given all they can, a lot of learnings and lessons along the way, the main thing now is just staying positive and keep going after it.
"Otherwise or we just sit back, moan and crumble and give up, which we definitely don't want to do.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Don’t know about that specifically but usually if a moto makes it a bike can too.Jumpyjohn21-07-2026
- Thanks, Am a bit surprised to have just seen other valid and relevant Vaughters comments elsewhere (very much aligned with mine) that were not included here.Jumpyjohn21-07-2026
- Campy is not at fault, the race moto literally decided the path, you follow the race motos alwaysabstractengineer21-07-2026
- Just did a rough calculation without checking and came up with about 44.35km/h Which will obviously go down this week but we may still finish close to 43.Jumpyjohn21-07-2026
- They will probably get him, they are in the bidding and it makes sense for him to go there where he could have a year or two to develop.awp21-07-2026
- Ineos don’t deserve a rider like that. In it for the wrong reasons.Mistermaumau21-07-2026
- What are you on about? I was taking about UCI fines not fines given to the general public?? Where is the outlay not being worth it when a rider for instance is fined 500 CHF for not presenting a bike in time for inspection. Then a further 500 CHF for that riders DS for the same offence.Alex Baudin was fined 500 CHF for taking a feed on foot outside the designated feeding zone. His sports director, Charles Wegelius, was also fined 500 CHF. Easy money I would say for minimal outlay!Cyclingsbestfan21-07-2026
- So a Dutch guy says something in not his native language, and people jump in as hard as they can to slaughter him! If everything that comes out of our mouths is dissected like this, we’d all constantly be looking like idiots. I’d be pretty certain he’s not claiming or imagining they were in control of the winning of the race, and I’d just cut him some slack!AndrewK21-07-2026
- Considering the level of superstardom he has achieved he remains remarkably down to earth and comes across as an all round pretty good person.mobk21-07-2026
- What a terrible crash. May he recover quickly and well. He’s been racing very well, and Remco was going to need him in the coming mountain stages.RidesHills21-07-2026
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