When Geraint Thomas began his first Tour de France in 2007, the overall classification chief he’ll be supporting in 2025, Carlos Rodríguez, was solely six years outdated. However as he seems to be to start out the 14th and ultimate lap of France at 39, the Welshman is seeking to be as aggressive as ever.
In his 13 Tour begins to this point, Thomas has managed to deliver house one yellow jersey, three podium finishes, three stage wins, and been a part of six GC-winning squads, supporting Chris Froome and Egan Bernal to their respective victories.
Thomas mentioned the distinction between that first hit out 18 years in the past as a fresh-faced 21-year-old and right this moment is “night time and day, to be trustworthy,” whereas conceding that by no means since has it bought simpler. The anticipation is all the identical, although.
“Again then that I had no concept what to anticipate, it was simply this entire new world, whereas now, 14th Tour, you do sort of know what to anticipate,” mentioned Thomas to the media, together with Cyclingnews, on Wednesday night.
“It would not make it any simpler, however simply loads of expertise, loads of exhausting yards, and yeah, clearly my place within the group might be totally different.
“Again then, I used to be the younger British child there, as a result of it began in London however now hopefully I may help the boys navigate the Tour. However I am nonetheless simply excited and nonetheless trying ahead to at least one final huge lap.”
Regardless of ending on a Grand Tour podium as lately as final 12 months’s Giro, Thomas did not point out any kind of GC problem as he spoke to media on Wednesday night, as an alternative wanting one ultimate day of glory on his farewell to biking’s largest race.
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He’ll supply his expertise to assist Rodríguez for almost all of the race, seeking to match or enhance on the Spaniard’s better of a fifth-place end from 2022, whereas additionally working because the group captain on the highway.
“I might love to simply be aggressive and go for a stage, I feel a stage win could be wonderful,” mentioned Thomas on a press name. “However you have nonetheless bought to be in tremendous nice situation for that.
“Then clearly, being alongside Carlos deep into the mountains and serving to him, as a lot as I can, actually off the bike as a lot as on it, and he is aware of what he is doing anyway. However I feel simply enjoying that position within the group of simply attempting to share my knowledge.”
Thomas was his typical jovial self three days away from the Grand Départ, joking about Rod Stewart and sarcastically remarking in regards to the knee harm, or lack thereof, which he sustained on the Tour de Suisse – regardless of crashing out, he assured all is effectively bodily.
“It was horrific, mate, I’ve simply accomplished unimaginable to get up to now, assume I am an absolute legend,” he joked. “However no, in all seriousness, it wasn’t that unhealthy. It was extra a precautionary factor with the group and the truth that I bought my foot caught behind and twisted my hamstring and calf.
“I bought some good coaching in behind the bike with my coach, Adrian, and did as greatest I may. It is irritating as a result of it clearly would have been good to see precisely the place I used to be in comparison with everybody else, moderately than simply coaching, as a result of it is all the time totally different, however no points now and all good from my aspect.”
He hasn’t thought a lot in regards to the subsequent chapter, which is about to be some kind of administration position throughout the Ineos Grenadiers setup, which has been his house for 16 years as a rider, however is aware of that reflection on each his 2018 yellow triumph and entire profession might be imminent.
“It has been an unbelievable profession, but it surely’s one thing that I nonetheless do not actually take into consideration. It is all the time been about what’s coming, and I am going to mirror on it as soon as I am truly accomplished,” Thomas mentioned.
“It has been a hell of a trip to this point, however there’s nonetheless another huge chapter to come back. So, get caught into that, do all we are able to and mirror afterwards.
“Possibly behind the scenes we’re speaking about stuff, however on the minute, I am simply concentrating on simply doing this race, and I am going to fear in regards to the afterlife, as Ed Clancy calls it, afterwards.”
Thomas spoke on the press name alongside Filippo Ganna and Rodríguez, and a number of other members of Ineos Grenadiers administration. The Spanish rider is assured he can go effectively on GC even in opposition to the likes of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, and Ganna, after all, setting his sights on the stage 5 time trial and chasing breakaways.
The group additionally offered a solution to why their group announcement got here final of all of the 23 groups beginning the Tour, confirming that it wasn’t due to the extra hands-on method taken by Dave Braislford, as he steps again into the biking fold.
As an alternative, it was harm and sickness that was inflicting the hesitation to substantiate, with DS Zak Dempster confirming that Ben Swift had been due a spot till late sickness dominated him out. Swift has lengthy been a detailed good friend of Thomas’, however will not be capable of shut out his Tour profession alongside him on the highway.
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