'You have to expect anything': Geraint Thomas and Ineos strengthen chances in Tour de France crosswinds
Thomas gained hugely on stage 10 as some of the other GC contenders struggled in the crosswinds


Geraint Thomas (Ineos) says Tour de France contenders "have to expect anything," having gained a massive 1-40 minutes on stage 10 over rivals – not in the mountains, but in the crosswinds coming out of the Massif Central.
The defending Tour champion and Team Ineos helped blow the stage to Albi wide open for an eventual overall win. Among the losers were Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) and Rigoberto Urán (EF Education First).
>>> Wout van Aert in disbelief after beating world’s best sprinters on debut at Tour de France
"You have to expect anything can happen any day, but on paper, the TT is the next big stage," Thomas said of stage 13 coming up.
"I am surprised so many missed out, I guess. They committed full to try to close it quickly and when they didn't manage that, the elastic snapped and we really gained time."
With 35km to race, Ineos and Deceuninck-Quick-Step took the reins. Crosswinds helped them to split the peloton. Pinot, who was the best placed classification rider at the end of stage nine, fell from third to 11th.
Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) remains on top of the race in the yellow jersey, but Thomas leads the virtual classification. He has four seconds on his team-mate Egan Bernal, 15 on Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma), 35 on Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), 52 on Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), and 1-21 minutes on Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ).
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It is certainly a good blow, you just got to be on it and ready to go at any moment, and that's where we were," Thomas added.
"Especially on a day like today where you'd never expect it really, it was just a positioning error from them and then they lose over a minute and a half. A great day from our point."
Pinot did not want to speak when arriving after 217.5km in Albi. The Frenchman said only, "I've got nothing to say. It was a shitty day."
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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Elisa Longo Borghini emerges as Flanders favourite with Dwars door Vlaanderen victory
The Italian rider soloed to her 50th career win ahead of an elite pack of chasers
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'We did a beautiful race up until 10km to go' - Visma-Lease a Bike pull defeat from the jaws of victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen
With such a difficult second place on Wednesday, could this performance affect confidence ahead of the Tour of Flanders?
By Adam Becket Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published