"Tadej, Jonas, Remco — they’ll all be flying. But the Tour is the Tour" - Geraint Thomas readying himself for final Tour de France of his career

A winner of the Maillot Jaune back in 2018, Geraint Thomas has plenty of fond memories of the Tour de France. In 2026 though, the Welshman will embark on the final Grand Tour of his career in France, and the 39-year-old is keen to go out with a bang.

“I’m looking forward to racing again — first in Switzerland, then on to the Tour," the INEOS Grenadiers icon, who is currently preparing at altitude ahead of a return to action at the Tour de Suisse, on the latest episode of his Geraint Thomas Cycling Club Podcast. "It’s shaping up to be a brutal edition."

Whilst Thomas has proven himself capable in the Grand Tours over recent years, finishing on the podium of the Giro d'Italia in 2023 and 2024, it's fair to say that no many expect the veteran to be in the mix for the podium at the 2025 Tour de France, given the immense level of competition expected. "Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel — they’ll all be flying," acknowledges the Welshman. "But the Tour is the Tour, and I’m excited for it.”

As mentioned, Thomas has been a star of the Giro d'Italia for the last two years. In 2025 though, he was one of the many enthralled fans watching the action on TV. “When I was watching some of those stages, I couldn’t help thinking, ‘God, I’d love to be out there right now,’” Thomas smiles. “To be fair, I often get that feeling watching races, but the Giro’s special. I’ve done it a few times in recent years, and it’s just an amazing event to be part of. Sadly, it wasn’t on the cards for me this year.”

With Thomas' fellow Brit Simon Yates being the man to emerge from the chaos in the Maglia Rosa, there was also plenty for Thomas to smile about with the result. “I always thought he could podium — he’s class in Grand Tours — but I reckon moving to Visma’s made the difference," he analyses. "He fits that setup perfectly and he’s clearly getting top-level support.”

As for the performances of his INEOS Grenadiers teammates, Thomas took a measured reflection. “We had bigger ambitions going in, no doubt, but I think we can be proud — especially of Egan Bernal," Thomas concludes. "He crashed a few times but always clawed his way back. He’s a real fighter, and the whole team showed a lot of character.”