The 2026 Tour de France was a particularly challenging event for the struggling Netcompany Ineos team, marked by crashes, punctures, and injuries. From the onset, the team, led by director of racing Geraint Thomas, encountered difficulties, despite nearly clinching victory in the team time trial held in Montjuic. Thomas described the competition as “tough going.”
Having taken the reins from Dave Brailsford, Thomas expressed relief at no longer being a competitor, reflecting on the considerable suffering he endured during the race. He noted the value of remaining involved in the operational aspects of the team.
Thomas faced significant challenges in his inaugural Tour as team manager, particularly when Oscar Onley, the designated leader, was sidelined due to an injury. This unforeseen circumstance necessitated a swift reevaluation of the team’s objectives.
The initial enthusiasm surrounding Ineos’s acquisition of Onley, who had achieved a commendable fourth place in 2025, quickly waned following his injury in June, which prevented him from participating in the Tour. This setback altered Thomas’s strategic plans for the race.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Thomas remarked, “We were there or thereabouts.” He emphasized the team’s ambition to win the team time trial, a goal that felt within reach, though they ultimately fell short.
Adding to their difficulties were frequent punctures and the impressive performance of Remco Evenepoel from the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, who achieved second place overall. Evenepoel, a friend of Thomas, had been linked to a potential transfer to Ineos, but complications prevented the deal from materializing. “With all the changes going on in that team, there were delays and I couldn’t really wait any more,” he explained, although he acknowledged that negotiations had been close to fruition.
In place of Evenepoel, Ineos opted to sign Onley, whose season in 2026 has yet to gain momentum. With the Tour concluded, Onley’s next major aim is likely the Vuelta a España.
With Onley unavailable as a potential podium finisher, the focus shifted to bolstering the team’s climbing capabilities by bringing in Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour winner. However, French recruit Kévin Vauquelin was unable to replicate his previous summer’s successes, leading Thomas and his team to concentrate on achieving stage victories. Their opportunities to do so were further diminished by the dominance of Tadej Pogacar and the UAE Emirates team, alongside a more demanding course and increased average speeds.
Thomas acknowledged that he had experienced a steep learning curve during the event. He remarked, “It’s easy to talk about winning stages, but there are so few that it is tough. But it’s the Tour; it’s not meant to be easy.”
As Thomas and his riders approached the critical finishes on Alpe d’Huez, their focus had shifted to survival rather than competition. “Without being defeatist, you’re not exactly racing ‘Pog’ on days like that,” he stated, referencing the challenges posed by the formidable competitor. He noted that racing dynamics change, necessitating adaptability, as opportunities in the race are scarce.
Reflecting on the past, Thomas compared the current state of the team to a decade ago when Chris Froome led Team Sky to a dominant overall victory in Paris, complemented by multiple stage wins from British riders like Mark Cavendish. That era now feels distant, with Froome retired and Pogacar consistently outperforming his rivals.
Regarding Pogacar, Thomas admitted that contesting against a five-time winner is a formidable challenge. “I think everyone, if they’re realistic, knew that he was on another level. It was only Jonas [Vingegaard] who really believed he could do it,” he said.
Thomas concluded by emphasizing the mental aspect of racing, noting that maintaining focus is crucial. “If you go off it, it’s so hard to switch it back on. As soon as you’re not performing at your best, you lose that couple of percent. Everyone is so good now that you can’t afford to do that,” he cautioned.
