"We wanted to get a bit more out of it" - Geraint Thomas admits disappointment as INEOS leave Tour de France without stage win
Cycling
Geraint Thomas has admitted his disappointment as the INEOS Head of Racing assessed the team's Tour de France performance after the team failed to take a stage win or a high general classification placement.
With injuries and illness already putting the team on the backfoot before La Grand Boucle, Thomas is taking a long-term mentality approach when it comes to how the team pick up the pieces after the Paris finale on Sunday.
An injured Oscar Onley missed the grand tour after suffering a crash at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes as well as Josh Tarling arriving while still on the mend from a broken collarbone while Kevin Vauquelin suffered an illness before the Tour and did not focus on general classification.
Focusing on stage wins, Egan Bernal picked up their best GC placing in 20th while their breakaway exploits weren't fruitful as well as a near-miss in the opening Team Time Trial in Barcelona.
"Obviously, it was a tough race. We wanted to get a bit more out of it," Thomas said via the Team.
"I think it started well with the TTT performance. Obviously we had a bit of bad luck and I didn't go our way."
Netcompany INEOS riders
Punctures and crashes hinder Tour de France
Untimely punctures and crashes hindered the likes of Bernal, Vauquelin and Thymen Arensman throughout the Tour, and Thomas acknowledged the riders' hard work and credited their effort.
He added: "Then a couple of crashes and a few untimely punctures meant it took a while just to get going. From there, the boys did what we wanted: they left it out on the road, they raced aggressively, they tried everything they could.
"Obviously, you want results at the end of the day, but when you go for stage wins, it means the mountain stages, the TT, and sprint stages wipe out a lot of the racing. There were five days that really ended in breakaways. We were always present, we were always there, but it just didn't happen. I don't think you can't fault the effort."
Looking forward, Thomas sees plenty of positives throughout the season to suggest that the British team can bounce back. In an honest admission, Thomas gave an insight into the team's mentality.
"It hurts, but when you're suffering, that's when it makes you really hone in on wanting to improve," he said. "The season as a whole, up to this point, I think is definitely a big, big positive. This month was hard, but I think we need to keep focused and keep pushing forward.
"You make a new plan, you get up, and you go after it, and you make it happen. So that's kind of the attitude I'm going to bring to it; that's the attitude that the team has, that the staff and the riders have. That's what we're going to try and do."
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Thomas and INEOS hope to bounce back
"We'll look at everything around the race, from coaching, nutrition, tactics, selection was tough because it was so changeable at the end. We'll look at every domain and just continue to push and look to improve in every aspect of it. That's what it's about. We go from there."
The 2027 Tour kicks off in the United Kingdom, and Thomas knows that the big target is to perform in the home country of the team.
"We've got the Grand Départ, that's exciting," he added. "We start in Edinburgh, then Liverpool, and then into Wales. It's going to be unbelievable. It's massive for the team, massive for the UK.
"We're a British team and we want to go there and perform and really capitalise on it. That's a really good target to have. I think everyone's super motivated for that. I, for one, can't wait. Let's get after it."
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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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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