Geraint Thomas supportive of Rod Ellingworth but would welcome Dave Brailsford return

Thomas reflects on a tough Vuelta a España for Ineos Grenadiers and addresses rumours linking Remco Evenepoel with the British squad

08:02, Wednesday 13th September 2023

Daniel Benson

Editor in Chief

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Geraint Thomas has seen his ambitions collapse at the Vuelta a España, but will continue stage hunting in the final week

Geraint Thomas has told GCN that he would welcome the return and input of Dave Brailsford at Ineos Grenadiers but stressed that Rod Ellingworth is doing a good job at leading the team.

Speaking to GCN exclusively at the Vuelta a España, the former Tour de France winner gave further insight into the state of the British team and their plan to return to the top of the sport within the coming years.

Geraint Thomas gives Jumbo-Visma their credit but insists Ineos Grenadiers remain motivated

Ineos Grenadiers have been off the pace in this year’s Vuelta, and despite taking a time trial stage through Filippo Ganna, the team has struggled.

Losing two key climbers in the first week didn’t help matters but their current predicament comes in stark contrast to both their previous position as the best Grand Tour team in the world and the run-away form of rivals Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates. Those teams have won the last four editions of the Tour de France, while Jumbo-Visma are on course to win all three Grand Tours in a single season.

Thomas, to his credit, came within a whisker of winning the Giro d’Italia in May and despite his recent Vuelta position, remains a leader in his own right. The Welshman has been part of the Ineos organisation since the inception of Team Sky back in 2010 and has witnessed the team’s dramatic rise, prolonged success and recent trials, and when he does hang up his wheels in the coming years the team will be hard pushed to find a better leader behind the scenes given his knowledge and expertise.

“They’re doing everything that they can,” he said of the team.

“They’ve got a lot of young riders who are progressing well, guys like Carlos Rodríguez, whatever he ends up doing but Magnus Sheffield and Tom Pidcock, and young Josh Tarling as well. You have to be patient with them and I guess there’s a bit of a gap in the middle between them and myself. Well, it’s not so little with me and Josh. That’s the big difference but the team is doing everything that they can. Jumbo-Visma are setting the benchmark now, as we did in the past for years, but everyone is still motivated to get back up to that top step,” Thomas told GCN.

'We’ve lost a bit of what Brailsford brings, so it would be good if he came back'

Earlier this summer reports emerged that Dave Brailsford was on the cusp of taking more control of the team. In recent years the former British Cycling maestro had been involved in several other Ineos projects outside of cycling, from running to sailing and the drawn-out and stalled purchase of Manchester United football team.

Rod Ellingworth, as deputy team principal, took on more responsibility within the management structure since returning from a short stint at Bahrain Victorious and has been instrumental in the hiring of a crop of young riders with massive but as yet unfulfilled potential.

It has been reported that Brailsford has overseen more control over the team’s transfer policy this summer and Thomas said he would welcome Brailsford back into the fold - although he categorically stressed that Ellingworth had more than kept the ship on course in recent times.

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“If I say yes then it makes it sound like I think Rod is doing a bad job, which I don’t think he is. Dave does have bags of experience and he does know what he’s doing but his role has changed and he’s head of all these other different sports. Yes, we’ve lost a bit of what he brings, for sure, so it would be good if he came back a bit more. But we'll see,” Thomas said.

Thomas addresses speculation linking Remco Evenepoel with Ineos Grenadiers

The former Tour winner also addressed the speculation surrounding the team’s interest in Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian is seen by many as a magic band-aid that would cure all of Ineos’ ailments in one flick of a signature on a contract. However, the reality is that high-profile signings don’t necessarily transform into instant success. Brailsford will know this if he has done his due diligence in regards to Manchester United’s transfer agenda.

Thomas, while complimentary of Evenepoel’s talents, pointed to the fact that the structure was just as, if not more, important than a recruitment policy.

“I don’t know because it’s complicated with contracts,” he said of Evenepeol, who has a contract with Soudal Quick-Step until the end of 2026.

“I’m not really the one to comment on that but as long as we keep working in the background and on the structure of how we go about things, then that’s just as important. Then obviously you need a leader who is competitive as well but I think we do or will have that. It depends if anyone new comes in next year or we decide to fully back the youngsters and give them more time,” he said.

If asked if buying star riders was the sole solution, the Ineos leader said: “No, not at all. It’s about how the whole team goes about things and it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong. It’s just that we keep stepping up."

"You’ve got to keep moving forward because otherwise when you’re at the top you get overtaken. That’s happened but it does take place in sport. There’s not one team that dominates for decades and decades. Even the All Blacks [New Zealand Rugby Team] lose. We’ll keep working hard.”

For how long will Thomas remain a leader?

While acknowledging that Ineos was not the same team as Team Sky once were - mainly due to his age and the rider turnover around him - Thomas reiterated his desire to keep racing for another year or two. He is expected to agree on a two-year contract extension in the coming weeks but his exact role within the squad may shift somewhat.

“I’m still motivated for another year or two, if not for myself, then at least to help with my experience. We’ve talked about the role when discussing what I can still contribute. It’s a role that I would enjoy doing but at the same time, I’ve still got those personal ambitions to keep riding well. That’s why you enjoy being at the front of a race,” Thomas added.

When asked if he would return in 2024 as a Grand Tour leader the veteran paused. It’s worth remembering that after a couple of tough years in 2020 and 2021, Thomas returned to finish third in the Tour in 2022 and second in this year’s Giro. The Welshman knows a thing or two about bouncing back.

“I’m not sure. I need to get these six days out of the way first and then I’ll reset and recharge. It’s been a bit of a slog but after a break, we’ll sit down and plan next year. Never say never really because I didn't think that I’d be racing for GC this year. When I won the Tour I didn’t think that I’d still be racing at this point.”

Keep up to date with all of the latest racing news from the Vuelta a España on our dedicated race page, linked here.