Geraint Thomas’ pro cycling career has unfolded almost entirely inside one organization. He initially rode as a stagiare for Saunier Duval – Prodir, then spent a few years on the ProTeam Barloworld. After his debut, however, he’s been part of one squad.
And now that he’s retired, he’s actually continuing to be part of it–albeit as the staff. And, just like his podcast, he gave some pretty interesting insight as to the beginnings of his journey with the WorldTour team.
Geraint Thomas’s Giro hotel toilet shows the unglamorous side of pro cycling
From his first seasons in the big leagues through his final Tour de France in 2025, the Welshman grew alongside Team Sky. It’s now INEOS Grenadiers, and it’s a squad that went from curiosity to colossus in little more than a decade. But…it was a strange journey, he said. Speaking to L’Équipe, Thomas reflected on how unwelcome that rise initially felt.
On marginal gains
When Sky entered the peloton in 2010, it arrived with cash, and a so-called “modern approach.” They were the ones who went on about “marginal gains.” That included warming up on rollers before races. Or things like meticulous attention to sleep, nutrition, and recovery with strict travel and meal schedules. There was also careful optimization of bike fits, kit, and aerodynamics. They even used their own washing machines for kit to reduce the risk of infections. Over the years, a few Canadians have also called the team home. Former pro Michael Barry raced for Team Sky, and current pro Michael Leonard entered the WorldTour with Ineos. (Leonard will ride with EF Education First in 2026.)
That combination, Thomas said, did not go over well with some of the others. “A lot of people didn’t like us,” he said . A new team, deep pockets, and the neverending “marginal gains” drew smirks from their competition. Even small details drew attention. Sky riders warmed up and cooled down on trainers or rollers while rivals watched skeptically.
Wins helped them fit in
“Everyone looked at us like, ‘Who are these guys?’ Thomas told L’Équipe. “You young guys don’t belong here.”
But then the victories came. And boy oh boy, were some big ones. Chris Froome took four Tour de France titles between 2013 and 2017, alongside overall wins in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. In 2019, Egan Bernal took the Tour.
Thomas’ own breakthrough came in 2018….
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