Sir Dave Brailsford set to play crucial role in Geraint Thomas’ transition into INEOS Grenadiers management

Sir Dave Brailsford is stepping back from his day to day involvement with Manchester United to concentrate on his broader responsibilities as director of sport at INEOS.

The 61-year-old will retain his position on the football club’s board, but his influence behind the scenes is set to diminish as he redirects his focus to overseeing INEOS’ global sporting ventures. Brailsford, is a close ally of INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and has been a prominent figure at Manchester United since the start of 2024, when Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake and assumed control of football operations.

While Brailsford’s presence at Old Trafford has criticism from some quarters, he remains a trusted man within the INEOS hierarchy. His reduced role at United reflects a strategic shift, rather than a falling out, as the company seeks to recalibrate its efforts across its various sporting investments.

The change in focus comes at a turbulent time. In 2024, both Manchester United and INEOS Grenadiers suffered disappointing seasons. Though fortunes have improved for the cycling team in 2025, United’s struggles on the pitch have deepened, increasing pressure on the management structure Brailsford helped assemble.

Since Team Sky became INEOS they have won the Tour de France just once, with Egan Bernal in 2019. But, 2025 has certainly started on a much more positive note for the team, after their terrible 2024.

Looking ahead, one of Brailsford’s key priorities will be to guide the transition of Geraint Thomas into a leadership role within the INEOS Grenadiers setup. The 2018 Tour de France champion, now 39, is expected to retire at the end of the 2025 season, after one final appearance in cycling’s most prestigious race next month.

Thomas remains contracted to the team as a rider but is already being prepared for a future off the bike. His vast experience and close ties to the INEOS project make him a natural candidate for a managerial or mentoring position. Sooner or later, it seems likely that Geraint Thomas will become, “DS Thomas.”

Brailsford’s legacy in cycling is deeply rooted in the success of Team Sky, which he helped establish in 2009. Under his leadership, the team redefined professional cycling, winning multiple Grand Tours with riders such as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Thomas, and Egan Bernal. The outfit remains one of the sport’s wealthiest and most influential teams, but must challenge the rise of Visma and UAE if they are to return to the top.