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Geraint Thomas has been appointed as the new director of racing at Ineos Grenadiers, only a few weeks after ending his racing career 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, who was Tour de France winner in 2018, 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 sports chief Dave Brailsford and performance director Scott Drawer.

His responsibilities will include providing crucial input into race strategy, talent acquisition, development and race readiness.

Thomas, most recently podiumed in a Grand Tour at the 2024 Giro, finished third behind Tadej Pogacar and participated in the latest Tour de France.

He brings a blend of stage racing and single-day competition knowledge.

"I'm eager to support emerging talent, to pass on that experience and keep pushing the team forward towards our mission of winning Grand Tours again," Thomas expressed.

His tactical intelligence, experience and knowledge of the peloton will plug a gap in expertise that had become evident lately.

The squad struggled to compete for the podium positions in Grand Tours in recent years.

Ex-team boss Dave Brailsford, back at the Tour de France, conceded last July that he had "much ground to make up" after his time with Manchester United.

Ineos Grenadiers last claimed a Grand Tour victory in 2021 and the once-dominant team faced criticism by Thomas himself and former staff.

They noted the team was lagging behind four-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar and his rivals, Jonas 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, following his 2024 departure announcement.

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

He added that "it was a lot more straightforward with Dave at the top. There was clarity with everything."

The longstanding professional bond with the Welshman has been key to his recruitment.

"Geraint knows what the process takes, how to deal with the highs and lows of elite sport and his eagerness to pass this on and mentor others represents a major plus for the squad," Brailsford said.