Geraint Thomas expects aggressive start to Tour de France mountains: 'We'll see how UAE hold up in the Alps'
The Welshman has promised an exciting race for fans as Ineos and Jumbo-Visma have no option but to attack Tadej Pogačar

As long as Tadej Pogačar stays upright, he'll win the Tour de France, says UAE Team Emirates principal Allan Peiper.
The Slovenian looked imperious in the stage five time trial, the flat race against the clock being the place where many had expected the likes of Primož Roglič and Geraint Thomas to gain on the 22-year-old before the mountains, but things didn't go to plan.
Now, already more than a minute and a half down, with the caveat that there's still a lot of road left to race of course, it's up to the Ineos Grenadiers and Jumbo-Visma to actually race the next two weeks rather than barrel up and over the climbs, the peloton strung out behind in displays of defensive dominance.
Geraint Thomas has spent the last decade as part of the Sky/Ineos train, controlling the race and suffocating any threat to their Tour dominance. But this year they'll have to race differently, and the Welshman is promising fireworks after managing to survive a chaotic first week that he had predicted before the start.
"It's still gonna be stressful but it'll be interesting now," Thomas told Cycling Weekly before the start of stage seven. "It'll be a different race, especially after tomorrow.
"We'll how it goes, hopefully I feel okay. It's just been a bit of a battle to get through. It's one of those things, hopefully I'll just feel better day-by-day."
Slightly apprehensive about his own form following his crash on stage three, which Luke Rowe didn't think the Welshman would get up from. Thomas then limited his losses in the time trial and is still within touching distance of the top of the GC, but far enough away that Ineos have to make a dent, make UAE Team Emirates work for it, and it sounds like that's what Ineos Grenadiers intend to do.
"It'll definitely be a different style [of racing]. I think it will be very aggressive from the outset. I'm sure it'll be fun to watch," Thomas said. We'll hold you to that, G.
Certainly, the fight for yellow is looking tasty, the strongest rider in the race not being on either of the two strongest teams. While some are already seeing the writing on the wall for Pogačar's title defence, the strength of his squad will be pushed to their limit.
"For sure they're a strong team but we'll see how they all hold up. I think it depends on how they go this weekend, but then obviously it's still two weeks to go of the Tour as well. It's definitely going to be an exciting race."
Thank you for reading 5 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Watch: Sir Willie the Weiner aims to be the Fastest Known Dog
Alexey Vermeulen’s training partner, Sir Willie, stars in new Pearl Izumi "daschund'mentary"
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Injury and heat see Simon Yates drop out of Giro d'Italia contention
Yates says he'll assess his injury after Monday's rest day
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'Of course I want to try to win the Tour de France'
After signing new contract with Ineos Grenadiers, British rider says he can lead wave of young riders at team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel aims to ride Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this year
Dutchman is continuing his comeback from injury at Coppi e Bartali this week
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Geraint Thomas 'will be very happy going to the Tour de France as a support rider', says Ineos Grenadiers' Rod Ellingworth
Ellingworth also backs the team to start winning big once Lady Luck falls their way
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Geraint Thomas won't compete at Flemish Classics: 'My condition isn't good enough'
The Welshman has also reprioritised his season, claiming he isn't solely focussed on the Tour de France this year
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Richie Porte won't ride Tour de France because he 'didn't enjoy pressure' of 2021 edition
The Australian will instead ride the Giro d'Italia as he seeks enjoyment in his final year of racing
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Jack Haig is working on his time trial as he aims for Tour de France overall after Vuelta podium
There will be 53km worth of time trialing at the 2022 French Grand Tour
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'I don’t want to end my time with the regret of not ever trying': Julian Alaphilippe wants to try and win Tour de France before retiring
The double world champion will focus on the Classics in 2022 but still has an eye on the French Grand Tour
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published