Geraint Thomas: Ineos Grenadiers cyclist signs new two-year contract

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Geraint Thomas, pictured with his son Macsen, finished second behind Primoz Roglic at the Giro d'Italia in May

Geraint Thomas has signed a new two-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers.

The former Tour de France champion and double Olympic gold medallist had been approaching the end of a two-year extension he signed in 2021.

Welshman Thomas turned 37 during this year's Giro d'Italia, where he finished second behind Primoz Roglic.

"Although you 'never say never', in my head this is my last contract but I know that I still have two more big years in me," said Thomas.

"I wouldn't have continued in a different team. This team understands me and, importantly, knows what it takes to achieve success.

"I have childhood mates here - Luke [Rowe] and Swifty [Ben Swift] as riders and [Ian] Stannard now in management, and I've known Rod [Ellingworth] since 2003. This really does feel like home.

"We're an ambitious group and have some big goals ahead. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in again and want to help the team continue to progress."

Thomas has been with Ineos since the team's inception in 2010, when they were known as Sky Procycling.

Having won two Olympic gold medals on the track, the Welshman has also enjoyed a distinguished career on the road which peaked with his 2018 Tour de France triumph.

Thomas has since claimed two podium finishes at the Tour and won several other prestigious multi-stage and one-day races.

After coming close to a second Grand Tour victory in Italy in May, a series of crashes saw him fall out of contention for overall victory in September's Vuelta a Espana.

"I want to continue to be highly competitive in anything really; maybe look at going to the Classics again or ride GC [general classification] in Grand Tours or help whoever is going to be the next guy coming through," said Thomas.

"But I just want to have a positive impact on the team.

"I'm at that stage where I'm still hungry to perform but at the same time, I am happy to help the team. I want to try and help us push forward to get back to the very top of the sport."

Ineos deputy team principal Ellingworth said: "We're thrilled that Geraint's decided to ride on for another two years as a Grenadier. 'G' is such an integral part of our team's set-up and rider culture.

"Not only has he won some of the biggest races in the world, but he's also shown he's a true champion off the bike, through the crucial role he plays across the wider team and with the younger riders."