Geraint Thomas Farewell Presentation & Speech – Cardiff – Tour of Britain 2025

Recorded in Cardiff, immediately after the final stage of the Tour of Britain, 2025.

[Applause] a rider who calls an end to his career here in his home city. He is a winner of the tour to France. Three stage wins in the tour to France. The winner of course as he reminded me this morning of Parinise, the tour to Swiss, the doofen, the tour to Roman, the tour of the Alps. He’s also finished twice on the podium of the Gino ditalia. He’s a double gold medalist in the Olympic Games. He’s won the Commonwealth Games road race. And as he reminded me earlier, the National Road Race Championships as well. Please welcome onto the stage, Gary Thomas. [Applause] Woo! Woo! [Applause] [Applause] Let’s kick things off then. We’re going to ask first of all for a few words from the Welsh first minister, please. Over to you, dear Marian. That was one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. How proud are we as a nation of you, Geral? This has been a huge privilege. How proud are we? Let’s give him a [Applause] This is one of the greatest sports funds that Wales has ever produced. We are so proud of what you’ve achieved for our nation. We are so proud of what you’ve done for our nation. You’ve put us on a map. We are proud as a government that we’ve managed to get the final of the tour here uh today to finish in your honor to make sure that you get the fitting end to a glittering career. We are so proud of you. You are not just a world legend. You’re a world legend. You’ve shown grit. You’ve shown determination. But more than anything, you have been a proud son of Wales and we are so pleased that you you’ve flown the flag for us everywhere you’ve gone gone and now you’re passing it on to your lovely child. So that’s marvelous and glad. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done tonight. Special presentation here for such lovely words. Thank you very much. We’re going to hand over now to say a few words to the chief executive of British Cycling, John Dutton. John, thank you very much. First Minister, thank you. Thank you to everyone that’s joined us today and across the route for what has been a truly memorable six days of racing in the Lloyds Tour Britain event. Today we stand together to celebrate the quite extraordinary career of Gant Thomas. Through his world-class performances, good humor and authentic, often self-deprecating charm, he has inspired millions of people and left an indelible mark on our sport. From the moment age 10, he first clipped in riding for Mandy Flyers to joining the British Cycling Olympic Academy two decades ago. His journey has been a testament the power of talent, determination, and the mental resilience required to succeed at the highest level. As the first minister said, 2018, the tour to France win was truly epic, lifechanging, and it’s that chapter of the illustrious story filled with Olympic goals, world titles, Commonwealth Games, and countless unforgettable performances. Now, as we stand here, we prepare to welcome the Tour of France Grande Par back to England, Wales, and Scotland in 2027. [Applause] and we will be reminded and inspired by the legacy that Grite has helped to build. His victory in 2018 wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was a catalyst for the resurgence of cycling across Britain. The return of the tour offers us a chance to honor that legacy, inspire new riders, and celebrate the joy of cycling, uniting communities, and elevating national pride. You’re right. From all of us at British Cycling, from the fans here in Wales and across the world, you’ve shown us what’s possible. And while this this might be your last race, your legacy will ride on. We have a small gift for you, which I will ask our race director and someone that was there at the start of your journey, Rod Enworth, to hand over. [Applause] And finally from me right we have the unenviable task of celebrating your career in 90 seconds. Let’s turn to the screen for one final time. Run v. Well look at this. Here we are. 19 seasons as a professional bike rider. Uh you’ve traveled the globe. You have got fans worldwide. So many of them are here with you this afternoon as you look out over a sea of uh green, white, and red pretty much. What’s your emotions? I asked you this morning, but I’m sure this afternoon has been a little bit different. What’s your emotions as you stand here in front of all your home people and the fans who have traveled here to see you? Oh, it’s mad. I um I’m not going to say too much cuz I think I’ll end up breaking down again like I did on SLC just now. But um it’s just been amazing. Um yeah, next question. We’ll come back to that in a second. We just summarized [Applause] [Applause] Ladies and gentlemen, what a rider he has been. I’ve been lucky enough to to talk about him for uh years across the world. I think I’ve commentated on the majority of his wins. Believe me, the world loves this bike rider and you love him here in Cardiff and I know that, right? We’ve seen your highlights. Do you have a highlight? Is there one race that sticks in your mind where you think that was the one? Is it the tour to France? Is it something else? Uh I think I’ve been lucky to have a lot of good highlights to be honest to choose from. But um the tour obviously everything changed after that. But you know along the way there was loads of things and I think the I said it this morning the thing that stands out the most is as Ed said um coming back from the the difficult times that’s the stuff that um sticks with you that you ease off when you get home. Yeah. Um yeah, the stuff that like everyone doesn’t see, you know, all the hard work you got to do all the time away from home. Um yeah, how many months have you spent at the top of a volcano? A lot. A lot. I think uh Marco Muani, I’ve been with him just as much as S, I think. Um it takes a lot of commitment, but you know, I think those those hard times coming back for them, getting stronger from them, that’s also what I’m really proud of. But but yeah, Olympics, world titles, you know, Commonwealth and all these victories on the road, they’re all great. But um yeah, the tour was obviously the the big one. And um just the support along the way has always been there, which has been amazing and that’s what I’m really thankful for. And you know, just seeing this now is uh nuts really cuz yeah, it’s uh I know Wales we’re a passionate you know bunch and we love to support each other and um but it’s when it’s for me it’s it’s unreal really. So, I just want to say thanks a lot. [Applause] When he started home when he started here 29 years ago, he’s going to say something. You never know. When you started here 29 years ago as a 10-year-old with the Mandy Flyers, did you have a dream? Was there a dream at that point or was it just enjoying racing your bike? Thanks. Yeah. Uh yeah, it was just I dreamt of like being part of the tour and turning professional and being part of the Olympics, not necessarily in cycling either, but just being um at the games, you know, but uh for it to happen as it has and the longevity of it as well, like I thought I would be well retired by now. I didn’t think Max would be able, you know, remember things like this and soak it all up and appreciate it. um able to do his own interviews. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe ask him something. What do you think, Max? No. Okay. Not yet. We’re not trained media trained quite yet. Um of course, inspiration young kids riding bikes and everything, go ride schemes that British cycling have. The tour to France is coming here. The tour to France families coming back to Great Britain. How important is that as a legacy to help young riders be inspired? Maybe we’re going to get a song. Um, oh, it’s massive. You know, I think, you know, the whole thing after London was the legacy there and I think it’s made a big difference. And I think just when you get big such big events like the tour, um, you know, that can really just inspire the next generation, you know, if they’re there watching, if it comes past their house or just on the telly and they see all the buzz from it, that’s great for the sport. So, it’s it’s amazing that um the tour is coming. Thanks. It’s amazing the tour is uh coming uh to Wales. And um yeah, when they did say when Rod told me like, “Oh, we’ll get the tour in 2027,” I was like, “I’m definitely not doing. It can be in a car. That’ll be fine. That’ll be quite nice.” Finally, look out over here. This is incredible. Uh this number of people to just be here for you is breathtaking. I knew this was going to be big, but this is huge. Have you got a final word for all of your fans, all of the people of Cardiff because you’ve come home, your career’s at an end. You’ve achieved so much. But yeah, thanks for coming. You know, with the weather and stuff, I was thinking [Applause] The support has been nuts and uh seeing so many things of my face is a bit freaky to be honest. It’s uh no I appreciate it so much and um yeah thank you. That’s all I can say. De off. [Applause] I’m going to grab the microphone before he does a microphone. I’m just going to ask back if they are here. I’m going to invite back Ben Swift, Ian Stannard, Darren Tuda, Luke Row, Rod Ellingworth, those guys who’ve had Have they all gone? Well, maybe they’ve gone already. Uh, don’t forget there is a special event for those of you who are going in the castle. But finally, please wave him off. He is a legend of the world of cycling. It’s been an absolute pleasure to talk about your career and for all of us to witness it. Gar Thomas.