Geraint Thomas, one of Britain’s most decorated cyclists, brought the curtain down on a storied career in the most fitting way possible: by riding his final professional race through the streets where his passion first sparked to life. On September 7, 2025, the Olympic gold medallist and 2018 Tour de France champion crossed his last finish line in Cardiff, his hometown, at the conclusion of the Tour of Britain. For Thomas, who spent more than two decades at the sport’s highest level, this wasn’t just another finish—it was a full-circle moment, a homecoming steeped in emotion, reflection, and gratitude.
The stage itself brimmed with symbolism and celebration. The 112.1-kilometer route, which began at the Newport velodrome now bearing Thomas’s name, wound its way past the Maindy Flyers cycling club—the very place where a young Geraint first took to the saddle in 1995. As the peloton rolled out, fellow professional cyclists formed a guard of honour, lifting their front wheels in salute, while fans—many sporting Geraint Thomas face masks and draped in Welsh flags—lined the roads, undeterred by the Welsh drizzle. The air was thick with nostalgia and pride, a testament to the mark Thomas has left on British cycling.
“It’s definitely going to be a strange feeling,” Thomas confessed to Sky News before the race. “I think tomorrow when I see Macs, my son, and Sara, my wife, I think it’s going to, yeah, I think that’s when it’ll hit me.” The thought of his family at the finish line clearly weighed on his mind, and when asked if there would be tears, he smiled and admitted, “I think I’ll definitely be leaving my glasses on.”
Thomas’s journey from the Maindy Flyers to the pinnacle of world cycling is, in his own words, “bonkers.” Reflecting on his career, he said, “It’s crazy now when you think, whatever it is, like over 25 years later to have had the career I’ve had is bonkers really.” That career, of course, includes Olympic gold in Beijing (2008) and London (2012), and the iconic yellow jersey at the Tour de France in 2018—a moment he described as life-changing. “Obviously Olympic medals were insane,” Thomas recalled, “but I think the tour [de France] was something else. I think Yellow Jersey is so iconic, everybody knows what the Tour de France is, no matter where you are in the world. So, yeah, I think that, you know, everything changed after that. Like, my life definitely changed after that and for the better.”
The final stage of the Tour of Britain was as much a celebration as a competition. The route passed not only his childhood club but also the pub where he drank his first pint and his parents’ house—touchstones of a life grounded in community and family. For the 39-year-old, the day was “just so surreal.” As he told the media, “Like most stages this week, I’ve kind of forgotten that I have to do a bike race because it’s just almost like a celebration before the start, and when you get going, you’re like ‘Oh jeez, I’ve actually got that racing to do now.’ It’s definitely going to be emotional.”
Thomas’s influence on Welsh and British cycling is unmistakable. Alan Davies, co-chairman of the Maindy Flyers and Thomas’s first coach, summed it up: “A whole club we’re extremely proud, we’ve been fortunate that we’ve had a number of youngsters who have come through this club and who’ve gone on to achieve Olympic golds, world records, world championships. But Geraint was the first, he was the one who showed the others the way. This is Geraint’s legacy within cycling in Cardiff.”
For the next generation, Thomas’s achievements have opened doors and inspired dreams. Ten-year-old Gwen, a Maindy Flyers member, said, “He’s inspired so many children to join Maindy, it’s just great what he’s done.” Twelve-year-old Imogen echoed the sentiment: “It gives her a nice feeling to know he started his career at the club. And then he went on to be an Olympian, Tour de France winner, and then is finishing his last race here.” Raima, another young cyclist, shared, “It gives you a sense of hope and brings everyone together—it makes you want to do better.”
Thomas’s last ride wasn’t just about him. He wore a custom-made jersey adorned with the names of those closest to him and a drawing by his son Macs. “There’s a lot of teammates, current and ex-teammates, Swifty, Mum and Dad—it’s nice. And on the back, Macs designed a picture. Apparently it’s me on the top step, so that’s good,” Thomas said, smiling. The sight of his son at the finish was especially poignant: “That’s what gets me, I never thought I’d still be going when he’s at the age to remember. I thought I would’ve stopped a couple years ago, so it’s nice that he can enjoy it.”
Family pride radiated from the finish line. His mother Hilary, 69, admitted she was “bursting with pride,” though she was “glad he was finished with cycling.” “It was nerve-wracking watching him race but he’s done so well,” she added. His father Howell, 75, called the day “really emotional.” The outpouring of support didn’t stop there—after the stage, a special event at Cardiff Castle was planned, with 4,000 fans gathering to pay tribute to one of Wales and Great Britain’s greatest ever cyclists.
Thomas’s gratitude was evident throughout. He thanked the race organizers for making his Welsh swansong possible: “I just want to thank Rod [Ellingworth, race director] and the organisers really for making this happen because they didn’t have to do it. This weekend has been an amazing way to cap it all off.”
As the sun set on the streets of Cardiff, Thomas’s legacy was clear—not just in the medals and jerseys, but in the faces of the young riders he’s inspired and the pride of a community that watched one of its own conquer the world. The cheers, the tears, and the tributes all pointed to a singular truth: Geraint Thomas didn’t just ride for himself—he rode for Wales, for Britain, and for the future of cycling.
With the echoes of applause still ringing in Cardiff and fans waving their flags high, Thomas’s final finish line marks not an end, but the beginning of his legend. The roads he rode as a boy, and again as a champion, will carry his story for generations to come.
