The only Welshman who won the Tour de France plans to retire in September. Will his departure affect the growth of cycling in Wales?
Alan Davis bends down to gently pat a young rider’s helmet before straightening up, his gaze drifting toward the 460-meter velodrome. This track has shaped generations of cyclists, each chasing their dreams of professional racing. Among them is Geraint Thomas.
Thomas’s journey began at the Maindy Centre Cycling Club, just a stone’s throw from the velodrome, where he first got on a bike as a child. Alan Davis, a longtime coach and now chairman of the club, still remembers those early days.
“After winning his first Olympic gold in 2008, Geraint returned to the club just a month later to speak with the kids,” Davis remembers. “Among them were young riders like Eleanor Barker and Owain Doull, who later won gold medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics. His inspiration was immediate and tangible.”
Thomas says he wants to step away while still enjoying the sport rather than stay too long and become frustrated with his performance. After nearly two decades at the top of his sport, he has confirmed that the 2025 season will be his final one.
While the final race route hasn’t been confirmed yet, there’s a strong possibility that his last race will occur in Cardiff, where he was born. This would mean his cycling journey begins and ends in the same city, bringing his extraordinary career full circle.
Thomas couldn’t help showing his excitement for cycling in his hometown. “It would be epic if that happens. I haven’t really thought about it much, but when I do start thinking about it, it’s going to be emotional. Maybe I’ll shed a tear or two,” he says.
Thomas’s story has been shaped just as much by his setbacks as by his triumphs throughout his cycling journey. He has faced numerous challenges, including injuries like fractured bones and crashes during major races, but each experience has helped him grow and become the cyclist he is today.
“Geraint Thomas is an exceptionally resilient athlete. He has faced numerous setbacks but has always pushed through,” Davis says. “For example, in the 2013 Tour de France, he broke his hip in the first or second stage but still completed the entire race. His level of resilience is rare, and no training program can truly teach that kind of perseverance.”
For George Kimber, a competitive cyclist who has raced across Europe in events like the Tour of Ireland and the Tour of Rhodes in Greece, the idea of a peloton without Thomas is difficult to imagine.
“For so many of us, Geraint has been a constant presence in the sport,” Kimber says. “Hopefully, his retirement won’t mean fewer people on their bikes, but it’s hard to ignore the impact Geraint has had on cycling.”
Some express concern for the future of Welsh cycling as his retirement looms. The sport now faces significant challenges, none more pressing than the financial barriers that prevent many young riders from reaching their full potential.
Unlike football or rugby, which have strong community-based development systems, cycling requires expensive equipment, ongoing maintenance, and extensive travel for competitions—costs that put the sport out of reach for many families.
Intercardiff found that even an entry-level racing bike costs between £600 and £1,200. High-performance racing bikes can cost significantly more, with top-tier models reaching up to £16,350.
The costs of bikes, equipment, and travel to competitions can be overwhelming, making it difficult for young riders from lower-income backgrounds to progress. “It’s a very white, middle-class sport. You’ve got to have a certain income to afford it,” Davis says.
Davis not only needs to be concerned with striving to get young riders on bikes but also keeping them there. One major concern is the uncertain future of key training facilities, including the Maindy Velodrome, where Thomas took his first laps as a child.
Although Cardiff Council initially planned to build a new velodrome in Cardiff Bay to replace the historic Maindy track, those plans have been scrapped. However, the council is still moving forward with plans to expand Cathays High School onto land at Maindy Park, jeopardizing the velodrome’s future.
“This place is unique,” said Davis. “It’s produced Olympic champions. If we lose it, we lose a part of Welsh cycling history.”
Another challenge for the sport’s growth is accessibility—not just for participants but also for spectators. Broadcast networks have confirmed that starting in 2026, the Tour de France will no longer be available on free-to-air television but will instead be behind a paywall. Many fear this will diminish its visibility, reducing the number of young people inspired to take up the sport.
Yet, Thomas’s legacy in Welsh cycling is secure even as challenges mount. Though he may soon hang up his racing wheels, his influence will linger in every young rider who pushes themselves to go faster, climb higher, and dream bigger.
Davis watches these kids riders circling the velodrome and smiles. “You never know,” he said. “The next Tour de France winner could be out there right now.”