Thymen Arensman and Geraint Thomas lead INEOS Grenadiers at the Tour of Britain

The INEOS Grenadiers have confirmed their squad for the 2025 Tour of Britain, a race that will double as the farewell tour of one of cycling’s great champions. Leading the team is 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who will close out his professional career on home roads, in what could be an emotional affair. Alongside him will be two-time Tour de France stage winner Thymen Arensman, Ben Swift, Samuel Watson, Lucas Hamilton and AJ August. Running from September 2nd to 7th, the race will once again attract top names across multiple disciplines, but all eyes will be on Thomas as he says goodbye in front of Welsh crowds.

The significance of the race is magnified by its finale. Both of the closing stages will take place in Wales, with stage 6 beginning in Newport just outside the Geraint Thomas Velodrome and ending in Cardiff. There, a special celebration is planned at Cardiff Castle, a fitting tribute to one of the nation’s most successful riders.

Thomas announced the farewell event earlier this week, saying, “As you know, the Lloyds Tour of Britain is my last ever race and the final stage into Cardiff will be my last day as a pro bike rider, which is bonkers. But to mark it, I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who's supported me along the way with a free event in Cardiff Castle after the Tour of Britain podium.”

The Welshman admitted he couldn’t imagine finishing his career without a chance to say goodbye on home soil. “I couldn’t finish my career without a proper goodbye could I? Excited to announce our plans for an event at Cardiff Castle after the final Tour of Britain stage on Sunday 7th September. The details are being kept a surprise from me for now… but I’m told it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Fans can expect a unique farewell that blends the emotional weight of the occasion with a celebration of a glittering career, and one of Wales greatest ever sportsmen.

Just a few weeks ago, Thomas completed his final Tour de France, drawing a line under a journey that began nearly two decades ago. Looking back on that chapter, he reflected, "I dreamt of racing it, of winning it, but I never for a second thought I would." For the Cardiff native, the very act of reaching the start line was once beyond imagination. "Kids from Cardiff don't ride the Tour. And then, in 2007, there I was on the start line. Now I've raced 14 of the flipping things."

Thomas’ career has been enjoy by British cycling fans for nearly 20 years. Speaking at the end of his last Tour, he paid tribute to those who shared the road with him. "A huge thank you to my teammates who've been there with me along the way, every single staff member who's been on the journey, and to you all for following along. It feels very weird to think I'll never race another Tour but I'm so proud to have done it 14 times."

Now, as he approaches his final professional race, Thomas will bow out in front of his home fans, riding the streets of South Wales for one last time in the colours of INEOS Grenadiers. The 2025 Tour of Britain will bring together a strong team around him, but it is the farewell of a champion that will dominate the week. The sight of Thomas crossing the line in Cardiff, before being honoured at Cardiff Castle, promises to be one of the defining moments of the season and a fitting send-off for a rider who carried Welsh cycling to the very top of the sport.