Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal react to Team Ineos Tour de France 2020 announcement
Bernal will be leading the team while Thomas will not be lining up
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8jgX9vowyXrShtpQAozEmk-415-80.jpg)
There were some surprises in the Team Ineos announcement for the 2020 Tour de France, as both Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome were left out of the squad.
British WorldTour team will be backing Egan Bernal in the delayed 2020 Tour, after the Colombian became the youngest winner of the yellow jersey last season.
Thomas, winner of the Tour in 2018, will instead be given leadership at the Giro d’Italia in October while four-time Tour champion Froome will race the Vuelta a España.
Froome has admitted he’s not confident he could do the job in France this year after his horrific injury last season, while Bernal and Thomas have also shared their reaction to the announcement.
Bernal said: “It’s a bit strange to not have Gee [Thomas] and Froomey in the Tour but I’m excited to see what Gee will do in the Giro d’Italia. It’s a really good Giro for him with the three time trials. So I think he can gain some time there and try to defend in the big mountains.
“Also in the Vuelta who knows, maybe I can go there and try to help Froomey. Now for sure I need to focus on the Tour. After the Tour I have no plans yet.”
Bernal will be supported by reigning Giro d’Italia champion Richard Carapaz and Pavel Sivakov in his bid to defend the yellow jersey.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The 23-year-old added: “It’s really exciting to have this team around me in this Tour de France. I think we are a young team with Pavel and Richard.
“We will enjoy it. We have a young team but with the experience of other riders like Kwiato [Michał Kwiatkowski], Luke Rowe and Jonathan Castroviejo I think it’s a good balance.
“I’m really happy to be in the tour team. I just want to go there and do my best for them and for the team."
Thomas, who finished second behind Bernal in Paris last year, last raced the Giro d’Italia in 2017 when he was forced to abandon after a crash on stage nine.
On his return to Italy, Thomas said: "In 2017 I was in great shape. I was in a similar form to what I was in 2018 when I won the Tour.
“The Giro ended badly that year with a crash and it’s something I’ve always wanted to go back to. I enjoy the racing there. I’ve always loved Italy, the roads and the fans and the food obviously. I’m looking forward to going back.”
>>> Tour de France 2020 route: Eight mountain finishes and uphill time trial to decide 107th edition
While Thomas has previously said he wants to target the Giro again one day, for 2020 he was determined to race the Tour in the hopes of repeating his 2018 victory.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former 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, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex 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 the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
A Stars and Stripes jersey and cold hard cash: the 2024 Gravel National Championships to offer a $40,000 prize purse for elite races
The US Gravel National Championships will return to Gering, Nebraska, on September 8
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ill Geraint Thomas battling to remain in Tour de France
The 2018 Tour de France winner is showing mild symptoms of Covid
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'It was damage limitation': Tom Pidcock, Jai Hindley react to losing time on Tour de France stage two
"There’s going to be minutes in three weeks. 21 seconds doesn't mean anything," says Tom Pidcock after first blows dealt from the favourites in Bologna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Geraint Thomas not picked by GB during his final Olympic cycle
Double gold medallist misses out on spot in five-man road team
By Adam Becket Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published