Geraint Thomas lands top Ineos post
A new chapter for a familiar figure
Geraint Thomas has joined Ineos Grenadiers as director of racing, a position the team created as part of its broader restructuring. The appointment comes shortly after sports directors Zak Dempster and Oli Cookson left for the newly reformed Red Bull, Bora, Hansgrohe setup, according to reporting from The Guardian.
“This team has been my home since day one, and stepping into this role feels like a natural next step,” Thomas said in the announcement shared by the team.
The Welsh rider has been a central figure within the organization since its earlier incarnation as Team Sky, contributing to victories that reshaped British cycling. His transition into management reflects a trend across elite cycling, where teams increasingly rely on former champions to bring tactical insight and mentorship to younger riders.
What Thomas will take on
Ineos said Thomas will work closely with the head of sport, Dave Brailsford, and performance director, Scott Drawer. The team described his duties as contributing to strategy, advising on recruitment, supporting rider development and preparing the squad for major races.
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Thomas brings the perspective of a rider who has experienced every level of the sport. He closed out his Grand Tour career with a podium finish at the 2024 Giro d’Italia, placing third behind Tadej Pogacar.
Over his years with the team, his strengths across both stage racing and single day events established him as one of Britain’s most reliable performers.
“I’m passionate about helping the next generation come through, to pass on that experience and keep pushing the team forward towards our mission of winning Grand Tours again,” he said.
A team searching for direction
Ineos Grenadiers has not won a Grand Tour since 2021, a contrast to the period during which the team, then known as Team Sky, dominated the Tour de France with riders such as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Thomas himself. In recent seasons, the squad has struggled to keep pace with top contenders including Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel.
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Last summer, Brailsford acknowledged the depth of the challenge after returning from a period working with Manchester United. He told reporters he had “a lot of catching up to do,” noting that the competitive landscape had shifted considerably in his absence.
Aerodynamics specialist Dan Bigham was more direct when announcing his 2024 departure, saying, “Ineos are not where they want to be, nor where they need to be and the gap is not small.”
These remarks underscored ongoing internal discussions about how the team should reposition itself, particularly as rivals invest heavily in scientific support, recruitment pipelines and year round race planning.
Why Thomas is viewed as a stabilising force
Earlier in 2024, Thomas hinted that a leadership shift might be coming. He told The Guardian that the team’s structure had sometimes felt “like a coalition government,” adding that operations were clearer when Brailsford held a more central role.
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His familiarity with the team’s evolution, combined with his long history of working with Brailsford, appears to have influenced his recruitment.
Brailsford said the move was a natural progression in their relationship. “Geraint knows what the process takes, how to deal with the highs and lows of elite sport and his willingness to now share this and mentor others to do the same is a great asset for the team,” he said.
Beyond his competitive record, Thomas’s reputation for pragmatism, humour and calm decision making has made him a respected figure within the peloton. His ability to communicate with younger riders, many of whom grew up watching his Tour de France victory, is seen as an advantage as Ineos works to rebuild depth across its roster.
A wider shift within the sport
Thomas is not the first recently retired rider to move into a strategic role. Teams across the WorldTour have increasingly tapped former winners for management positions as the demands of modern racing intensify.
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The complexity of aerodynamics, nutrition, data analytics and altitude preparation has grown so quickly that riders with recent experience often provide insights that older management structures lack.
For Ineos, a team built on marginal gains and scientific rigor, the challenge now is matching the innovation and firepower of competitors backed by major sponsors such as UAE Team Emirates and Visma, Lease a Bike.
Thomas’s appointment signals that the organisation intends to blend experience with new approaches as it tries to reclaim a consistent place on the Grand Tour podium.
Sources
Team statements from Ineos Grenadiers, The Guardian reporting, rider interviews and previously published remarks.
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