THOMAS LOOKING FORWARD TO WORLD CUP MADISON

Geraint Thomas has put his Olympic celebrations behind him and is set for one last track race in 2008.

The Barloworld pro will partner madison world champion Bradley Wiggins at the Manchester world cup next weekend in the two-man event. The pair are used to training and racing together in the team pursuit are untried in the madison at this level, but could combine to create a strong partnership.

Stepping in to fill Mark Cavendish's shoes in the madison isn't phasing Thomas who has vast track experience behind him following his time in British Cycling's Olympic Academy. ?I hit [the celebrations] hard after the games, but I?ve got the track world cup and I?ve got my racing head on now,? Thomas said. ?I had ten days off [after the Olympics] but I was racing again at the Tour of Britain, and then I was back out to Italy, for the worlds, where I was just riding my bike and enjoying it.?

Being away from the Olympic media furore in the UK and the distractions that go with it saw Thomas build some good form that he hopes to put to use on the track and then carry through in to his winter training. ?I?ll have a week off after Manchester and then I?ll be back in to training. I want to concentrate on the road next year, I want to be going well for April for things like [Tirreno] Adriatico and see what I can get out of them.?

?I?ll do what Brad did and have two years out from track racing. I?ll still be riding track in training and I might do the odd world cup before Christmas, but I want to be competitive and maybe win a race. I?ve been speaking to [Claudio] Corti and he?s quite excited about next year. Anything with a short prologue I can have a go at.?

?For the last two years I?ve always been chasing my road legs after riding on the track. It would be nice to go in to it and give it a go. I definitely want to ride a Grand Tour again next year. We don?t know if we?re in the Tour de France, but we should be alright for the Giro.?

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