Geraint Thomas to star in BBC documentary about his preparation for Tour de France defence
The one-hour show will give a behind-the-scenes look at life as a Tour winner
Geraint Thomas will star in a BBC documentary focused on preparations for his Tour de France title defence this season.
The hour-long documentary will also trace the Team Sky rider’s life, from growing up in Cardiff to Tour winner.
Geraint Thomas: Easy Rider will follow the Welshman through the opening part of the 2019 season as he prepares to return to the French Grand Tour as reigning champion.
Thomas said: “Last year was an absolutely phenomenal year for me. The support I received from the fans was just incredible.
“As this season gets underway, I’m looking forward to sharing more of my story, and taking the audience with me as I prepare for the races ahead.”
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Thomas will film part of the documentary himself, while camera crews will follow him during his build up races in the early season.
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Following his training in France and Tenerife, as well as racing at the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse, the documentary aims to give an insight into the pressures a Tour-winning rider faces.
Head of commissioning at BBC Cymru Wales, Nick Andrew said: “Geraint Thomas: Easy Rider will be a stunning portrait of an athlete at the top of his game.
“People know Geraint the humble, warm and witty man, but put him on a bike and he’s the ultimate warrior and a national treasure.
“This film will give our audiences extraordinary and privileged access to his preparation and dedication as he sets out to defend his Tour de France title.”
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The film will also include interviews with Thomas and his family, offering a personal insight into his life.
Cardiff-based filmmakers Nimble Productions will make the documentary, following the success of Sam Warburton: Full Contact about the rugby union star.
BBC Two controller Patrick Holland said: “We were gripped by last year’s Tour de France and Geraint Thomas’ triumph.
“This film offers amazing insight into the passion and sacrifice behind the yellow jersey from a new national hero.”
The show will air on BBC One Wales and BBC Two later this year, on a date yet to be announced.
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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.
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