Geraint Thomas gears up for 'one more big chapter' as British veteran eyes 'amazing' stage win at Tour de France 2025
Updated 03/07/2025 at 07:31 GMT+1
Geraint Thomas is targeting one final stage victory as he brings the curtain down on his glittering career. The 2018 Tour de France champion is set to retire at the end of this season. He is therefore gearing up for his final tilt at cycling's blue riband event, despite a nasty knee injury picked up in Switzerland last month. Ahead of the Tour, Thomas said winning a stage would be "amazing".
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Geraint Thomas will have one last tilt at the Tour de France this month, and admitted he is targeting a stage win as his final hurrah.
The 2025 edition of the race gets underway on Saturday, July 5, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The Welshman, who sensationally claimed the yellow jersey back in 2018, is taking part for the final time after announcing his retirement earlier this year.
It will be the 14th time the Ineos Grenadiers rider has participated, and he is hoping to bow out in style.
"I'd love to just be competitive and go for a stage. I think a stage win would be amazing," Thomas said on a media call on Wednesday.
"Then, obviously, being alongside Carlos [Rodriguez] deep into the mountains and helping him as much as I can, really off the bike as much as on it, and he knows what he's doing anyway.
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"But I think just playing that role in the team of just trying to share my wisdom."
The Welshman has previously enjoyed three stage victories at the Tour de France.
His 2018 crown is accompanied by two further podium finishes in the general classification - a runners-up spot in 2019 and coming third three years later.
At 39, he will be the oldest competitor in the race, 18 years the senior of Movistar Team rider Ivan Romeo, who is the youngest set to line up for the Grand Depart.
During a glittering career, Thomas has also claimed two Olympic gold medals, alongside three World Championship crowns, all on the track.
"It's been an unbelievable career," he continued. "But it's [retirement] something that I still don't really think about.
"It's always been about what's coming, and I'll reflect on it once I'm actually done.
"It's been a hell of a ride so far, but there's still one more big chapter to come. So, get stuck into that, do all we can and reflect afterwards.
"Maybe behind the scenes we're talking about stuff, but at the minute, I'm just concentrating on just doing this race, and I'll worry about the afterlife, as Ed Clancy calls it, afterwards.
"I'm still just excited and still looking forward to one last big lap."
Thomas' participation in the race was in serious doubt a couple of weeks ago though, following a nasty crash at the Tour de Suisse.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider suffered a knee injury that threatened to ruin his swansong.
Just days out from the Grand Depart, which takes place in Lille, the 39-year-old has eased any fears over his fitness.
He joked: "It was horrific, mate. I've just done incredible to get to this point. I think I'm an absolute legend!
"But no, in all seriousness, it wasn't that bad. It was more a precautionary thing with the team and the fact that I got my foot caught behind and twisted my hamstring and calf.
"I got some good training in behind the motorbike with my coach, Adrian [Lopez], and did as best I could.
"It's frustrating because it obviously would have been nice to see exactly where I was compared to everyone else, rather than just training, because it's always different, but no issues now and all good from my side."
Watch and stream the 2025 Tour de France live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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