Tao Geoghegan Hart will ride Tour de France over Giro d’Italia this season
The 25-year-old Brit believes he can one day win the yellow jersey

Tao Geoghegan Hart (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

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.
The 25-year-old Brit will be making his debut in the French Grand Tour this summer after his unexpected victory in Italy last year.
After designated Ineos Grenadiers leader Geraint Thomas crashed out of the 2020 Giro d’Italia, Geoghegan Hart emerged as victor ahead of Jai Hindley (Sunweb), taking his first Grand Tour title.
In an interview with The Telegraph newspaper, London-born Geoghegan Hart said he was 50-50 when deciding between the Giro and the Tour, but added that he wanted a new challenge, and with the blessing of team principal Sir Dave Brailsford, he landed on the Tour.
He said: “It would be incredible to go back [to the Giro] this year with the number one jersey. I understand the significance of that. But I think as a bike racer, to put it bluntly, you can't see the number on your back.
“Ultimately, I felt I wanted to target something new and different. And yeah, the biggest race in cycling. I think there's no argument there.”
Ineos have multiple Grand Tour winners to choose from for their 2021 Tour de France line up, as Geoghegan Hart joins Thomas, Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz among the team’s former three-week winners.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
With Bernal rumoured to be targeting the Giro d’Italia this year, Ineos could back Thomas or Carapaz to win the yellow jersey, with Geoghegan Hart ready to step in if the road decides.
On leadership at the Tour, Geoghegan Hart said he had not discussed the issue with the Tour and that “it’s not a conversation I’m too interested in.”
>>> Tom Pidcock on not drinking coffee, his favourite video game, and Back to the Future
But after his win in Italy, Geoghegan Hart is confident he could one day challenge for the top step in Paris: “ I think three-week racing really suits me physiologically, especially that last week.
“I showed in the Giro I was there. I think with that race in mind, that does give me the confidence to dream about trying to challenge for the Tour.”
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.
-
'Given the circumstances, it's very impressive that he finished this stage' - Jonas Vingegaard crashes at Paris-Nice, loses 26 seconds on stage 5
Visma-Lease a Bike rider left with cut on lip and and ceded race lead on Thursday, understood to have hurt wrist
By Adam Becket Published
-
'The legs were on fire' - Lenny Martinez powers to victory on stage 5 of Paris-Nice as Matteo Jorgenson moves back into the race lead
American takes over the yellow jersey after Jonas Vingegaard ships time on steep final climb to La Côte-Saint-André
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
-
Geraint Thomas represented 'all the best things about the golden era of British Cycling' - tributes paid to retiring rider
Former and current teammates and other figures from within pro cycling react to the Welshman’s decision to retire at the end of the current season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers win first pro race in 226 days as Michał Kwiatkowski triumphs at Clásica Jaén
It was the Pole's 32nd professional victory, and his first since 2023
By Adam Becket Published