Tao Geoghegan Hart has earned his rest this off-season.
The Brit returned to the UK as an unexpected Grand Tour winner after his remarkable performance in the Giro d’Italia, which saw him triumph on the final stage after a tumultuous race for the Ineos Grenadiers.
But after travelling back to London to celebrate the victory and take some deserved rest, Geoghegan Hart, 25, is already preparing for 2021, and has said he hopes to race for Grand Tour victory every year.
In an interview with Italians newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Hackney-born pro said the dream is to also win the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, to complete the set of three-week victories after his success in the Giro.
Geoghegan Hart said: “Of course that's my dream.
“I think to win the Giro as your first Grand Tour is amazing really, especially this year with everything that's happened and how difficult it's been for everyone.
“But definitely, that's the objective. I hope that I'm going to have another 10 years or more of my career and the plan is to fight every year for those races and also for the Giro of course.”
Ineos went into the Giro backing pre-race favourite Geraint Thomas, but after the Welshman crashed out in first week it looked as though another Grand Tour victory was out of reach for the British team.
But in the final week Geoghegan Hart emerged as an unexpected front-runner, thanks in part to some phenomenal support rides by Rohan Dennis.
The race came down to the final time trial in Milan, with Geoghegan Hart tied on time with Sunweb’s Jai Hindley as the former eventually came out on top.
Ineos also came away with seven stage victories - two for Geoghegan Hart, four for Filippo Ganna, and one for Jhonatan Narváez.
>>> Cross country skier signs with Egan Bernal’s old team after showing ‘exceptional values’
Geoghegan Hart said: “As a group, not only the riders, also with the staff, we had a really amazing three weeks of course, not without problems and difficulties. We lost two of our team along the way and we had some tough moments for sure.
“It feels quite a long time ago, but I can't wait to see to see the guys again. And I'm sure it's a race that we'll be talking about for the years to come. And certainly it's a race of course that I'll never ever forget.”
He added that he is now back on the bike for the first time since the Giro, riding for up to three and a half hours as he begins his preparation for 2021.
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
'If you can achieve something like this, then other things in life can seem quite easy': Local hero outlines the joy of ultra-endurance events
From Cumbria’s highest passes to motorway McDonalds stops - video showcases the rollercoaster reality of a 60-hour ride in all its unglamorous glory
-
Record rides: Tommy Godwin’s 75,065 miles in a year
vans Perhaps one of the most incredible records ever set on two wheels retold by Dave Barter.
-
Red Walters becomes first stagiaire in new diversity initiative set up by Hagens Berman Axeon and Tao Geoghegan Hart
Former Hagens Berman Axeon rider, Tao Geoghegan Hart set up the scheme to bring more cultural and racial diversity into the sport
-
‘It could be one of the toughest races of our careers’: Tao Geoghegan Hart and Simon Yates share thoughts on Olympic road race
This year’s race will take place in brutal heat and humidity in Japan
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Paris-Nice 2021
Tao Geoghegan Hart has abandoned Paris-Nice 2021 after a crash on stage four.
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart takes a knee and reveals he will sponsor a rider to improve diversity in cycling
Tao Geoghegan Hart has taken action to improve diversity in cycling, by sponsoring a rider to join his old development team.
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart will ride Tour de France over Giro d’Italia this season
Tao Geoghegan Hart has been tempted away from wearing number one at the 2021 Giro d’Italia, as he instead plans to race the Tour de France this year.
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart says ‘it was a massive honour’ to have Team Ineos stars supporting him in Valenciana
Tao Geoghegan Hart said it was a ‘massive honour’ to have the reigning British champion and a former world champion riding in support at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
-
Losing Tao Geoghegan Hart from Giro d’Italia will affect Team Ineos cohesion, say Nicolas Portal
The British rider leaves the Giro after breaking his collarbone in a crash on stage 13
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Giro d'Italia 2019
The Brit abandoned after a crash on stage 13
