Geraint Thomas brought his final Tour de France to a close in Paris surrounded by friends and fellow riders, escorted across the line in the rain as the curtain came down on a career that spanned two decades and 14 appearances at cycling’s biggest race.
From the youngest rider in 2007 to the oldest in 2025, Thomas’s Tour story has been long, varied and often emotional. His victory in 2018 remains the high point, backed up by podium finishes in 2019 and 2022, alongside three stage wins and time spent in yellow. But in the end, his final ride was less about results and more about reflection.
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Charly Lopez“I was the youngest rider in the Tour in 2007 and this year I was the oldest,” he told TNT Sports. “To do 14 is unreal really, one hell of a journey.”
The 39-year-old Ineos Grenadiers rider crossed the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in 58th overall, over three hours down on Tadej Pogačar, but was content simply to reach Paris. The final stage, redesigned to include laps up Montmartre, unfolded under heavy rain and suited the mood of a man bringing his time at the Tour to a close.
“It was horrific – the worst last stage I’ve ever done, but at the same time, that last lap was the best last lap I’ve ever done. So you’ve got to take positives and negatives, like anything in life.”
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Billy Ceusters“I think the final stage summed up my Tour, to be honest. It was in pieces, there was a lot going on today with the rain and everything, and it kind of reflected my mood.”
After a relatively quiet race, in which his most visible moment was being part of the breakaway on stage 7 to Mûr-de-Bretagne, Thomas was clear about how much the sport around him has changed. He pointed to the increased intensity, the new generation of riders and the risks now seen in the peloton.
“I’m super happy it’s done. I’m happy with my decision to retire as well because the race and the physical aspect is one thing, but I feel like everything else has changed in the sport. It’s not just that people are training better and are more dialled, it just feels more chaotic in the peloton. It’s like a game of chicken, and no one wants to move. Maybe it’s more of a young man’s sport these days, and I’m too old. It’s a good time to stop.”
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Billy CeustersThomas will officially end his racing career at the Tour of Britain later this season, with a stage finishing in his home city of Cardiff planned in tribute. He is expected to transition into a management role within Ineos Grenadiers, keeping him involved in the sport after retirement.
Ineos salvaged two stage wins in the mountains through Thymen Arensman, though their GC campaign faltered when Carlos Rodríguez crashed out. The team also found themselves under scrutiny following revelations about head carer David Rozman, who is being investigated by the International Testing Agency in relation to past contact with a convicted doping doctor. Ineos issued a short statement, saying the team and Rozman would fully cooperate and reiterated their zero-tolerance policy on doping.
As for Thomas, his farewell wasn’t about classification or podiums, but about saying goodbye on his own terms.
“A hell of a journey and a hell of a farewell Tour,” he said.
