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Geraint Thomas has been appointed as the new director of racing at Ineos Grenadiers, just weeks after retiring from competition at this year’s Tour of Britain.

"I've called this team home from the very beginning, and stepping into this role feels like a natural next step," Thomas said.

The move by Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France champion, has been long-anticipated and comes after a major management reshuffle at Ineos Grenadiers.

According to Ineos, Thomas’ freshly established senior position will see him collaborating directly alongside Ineos head of sport Dave Brailsford and performance director Scott Drawer.

His responsibilities will include contributing key insights on competition planning, rider recruitment, development and race readiness.

Thomas, most recently podiumed in a Grand Tour at the 2024 Giro, placed third to Tadej Pogacar and rode this year’s Tour de France.

He offers a mix of stage racing and single-day competition knowledge.

"I’m passionate about helping the next generation come through, to pass on that experience and keep pushing the team forward towards our goal of Grand Tour victories," Thomas commented.

His tactical intelligence, years in the sport and understanding of the pack will plug a gap in expertise that had become evident lately.

The British team found it hard to challenge for top spots in Grand Tours in recent years.

Former Grenadiers team principal Dave Brailsford, back at the Tour de France, admitted last July that he had "a lot of catching up to do" after his time with Manchester United.

Ineos Grenadiers last claimed a Grand Tour victory in 2021 and the once-dominant team has been criticised by Thomas himself and ex-team members.

They noted the team was lagging behind four-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar and his rivals, Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel.

"Ineos are not where they want to be, and not where it must be and the distance is significant," performance expert Dan Bigham remarked, after announcing he was leaving the team in 2024.

Thomas’ new position was first mooted in 2024 when he shared with reporters that the team’s management was “like a coalition government”.

He added that "things were clearer with Dave in charge. Everything was well-defined."

Brailsford’s long-standing working relationship with the Welshman played a vital role in bringing him onboard.

"Geraint knows what the process takes, how to handle the ups and downs of top-level competition and his eagerness to pass this on and mentor others is a great asset for the team," Brailsford affirmed.