Geraint Thomas is set for one final appearance at the British National Championships later this month, with the veteran Welshman listed for both the time trial and road race in what could be his last competitive outing on home roads before retirement at the end of the 2025 season.
Now 39, Thomas hasn’t raced the British Nationals since 2018, the same year he won the time trial national championship in Northumberland and went on to take overall victory at the 2018 edition of the Tour de France. He previously won the national road race title in 2010 but hasn’t lined up for that discipline since 2014.
Both events this year will take place in Wales. The time trial is set for Thursday, 26th June, on a 41km course in Aberaeron, while the road race will be held in Aberystwyth on Sunday, 29th June, over 187km. Thomas’s participation would be symbolic, bookending a long career with a return to his national championship roots before his expected farewell at the men’s Tour of Britain in September, which finishes in Cardiff.
The start list also features a strong cast of current and former champions. Ethan Hayter is entered to defend his road race title after a tough start to the season since moving to Soudal Quick-Step. Meanwhile, Ineos Grenadiers teammate Josh Tarling is listed for the time trial and would be aiming for a third consecutive title if fit following his Giro d’Italia crash.
Other previous champions on the men’s side include Fred Wright, Ben Swift and Connor Swift, while 18-year-old Matthew Brennan lines up after a prolific first half of the season with Team Visma-Lease a Bike, notching eight victories. Joe Blackmore, one of last year’s breakthrough riders, is also on the list.
If Geraint Thomas does start, it will mark a fitting return to the roads where his career first began to take shape.
