Geraint Thomas already moves on from INEOS's 'strange Tour', looking to homecoming in 2027: 'A great goal to have'
CyclingMonday, 27 July 2026 at 13:56
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Follow us on GoogleOnly nine teams emerged from this Tour de France with a stage victory, meaning that the other thirteen teams came away empty-handed. Netcompany INEOS was one of those teams. The British squad didn’t have its most successful Tour, though that was largely due to bad luck, both before and during the race. Geraint Thomas, Director of Sports, looks back.
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This season, Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin were brought in as the team’s new leaders. The fourth- and seventh-place finishers from last year’s Tour were set to lead the team during this year’s Tour de France. However, Onley crashed in the Tour Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes and was unable to start, while Vauquelin fell ill in the lead-up to the race and failed to make an impact in La Grande Boucle.
This forced Netcompany to shift its focus to the Tour. Josh Tarling was fit just in time after breaking his collarbone, but Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman were pulled out of a hat as last-minute additions to the roster. The two climbers had already endured a grueling Giro d'Italia.
Things didn’t go smoothly in the Tour either. Dorian Godon, the team’s designated sprinter, crashed early in the race and never fully recovered from the blow. Vauquelin wasn’t at his best, and time trialists Tarling and Filippo Ganna were outclassed in their discipline. Bernal and Arensman did give it a shot in the mountains, but never really came close to a stage win.
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Thomas looks back on a 'tough race'
The Dutchman also had his share of bad luck. First, he crashed early in the Tour. He recovered and wanted to be in the lead group heading to Le Markstein, but got a flat tire just before he could catch up. His chance was gone. He also arrived late for his time trial, causing him to lose ten seconds. And during the queen stage, the climber was doing well, but he crashed on the descent of the Col du Galibier.
So it was a strange Tour for INEOS. “It was, of course, a tough race,” Thomas says on X. “We wanted to get more out of it, but we got off to a good start in the team time trial. After that, we had some bad luck—a few crashes and flat tires—so it took a while before we could really get into our rhythm. But we did what we set out to do: race aggressively and give it our all. Of course, some mistakes were made, but you learn from those. They’ve also improved. That’s what matters most.”
The lack of stage wins is disappointing, but the Welshman knows that there weren’t many opportunities either. “Ultimately, you want results. A lot of mountain stages, sprints, and time trials made it difficult for us. There were really only about five stages that ended in a breakaway. We were always in the mix, but it just didn’t work out. It wasn’t for lack of effort. It hurts, but when you’re suffering, that’s exactly when you want to get better.”
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Thomas already looking to 2027: 'Want to perform well there'
Thomas wants to look at the Tour from a positive perspective. “The season as a whole has definitely been a big plus. This month was really tough, but we have to stay focused and keep going. After a poor performance, I didn’t feel sorry for myself, you know? You make a new plan, you go for it, and you make sure it happens. We all have that mindset.”
After three weeks of intense racing, it’s time to reflect. There’s still a lot to be gained in the final months of the cycling calendar. “We’ll look at everything, from coaching and nutrition to tactics. Selecting the team was difficult because there were so many changes to make. We need to examine every aspect—that’s what it’s all about.”
Next year, the Tour will start in Scotland, after which the race will pass through England and on to Wales, the home country of Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner. “Unbelievable,” he says. “It’s going to be huge for the team, huge for the UK. We really want to perform well there—it’s a great goal to have. Everyone is super motivated, and I can’t wait.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Qué final, mon dieu! Van der Poel incroyable, pero también Pogacar con sonrisa de amarillo. Two giants making history.lindae27-07-2026
- - MVDP “second-best cyclist in the world pound-for-pound” feels off. On one-day races and pure punch, he’s untouchable. But if pound-for-pound means all disciplines, isn’t Wout in that convo too? Little harsh on others.michael5427-07-2026
- - Wait, did I read this right — Pogačar beat Pantani’s Alpe d’Huez record by30? How is that even possible with modern pacing and headwinds etc.? Was the exact segment identical to Pantani’s?gearguru3327-07-2026
- - Armstrong calling Tadej the GOAT after a fifth Tour is bold, but honestly, the versatility this year was absurd: cobbles, climbs, TT, you name it. Still, comparing eras to Merckx is always messy.breakawaybikerd27-07-2026
- - Absolutely electric finale on the Champs. MVDP timing that last dig to perfection while the sprinters hesitated — that’s race craft. Also, him matching Tadej on Montmartre then countering? Chef’s kiss.julien27-07-2026
- - If he does the Vuelta after this block, that’s insane. Pero, ¿de verdad tiene sentido arriesgar el burnout otra vez? Mejor descansar un poco, no?velodromevirtuoso127-07-2026
- - Not sure about the article’s angle saying he “let” Mathieu take it at first—looked like he blew, full stop. Slightly misleading phrasing tbh, but the quotes cleared it up.patriciaw27-07-2026
- - Five Tours and still talking about enjoying the little things. That’s why he’s different. Also, huge shout to Adam Yates riding through stomach issues—UAE’s depth saved some tricky days after McNulty DNF’d.robert6527-07-2026
- - Loved the bit about the Pogi Challenge and supporting his foundation. Also great he wants to catch the Tour de France Femmes to watch Urška—more riders should big up the women’s race like that. Bravo, mate.andrewf27-07-2026
- - Sorry if daft question: why is the yellow jersey even contesting the final sprint in Paris? Isn’t it usually more of a parade and then sprinters teams take over?pedalpowe2927-07-2026
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