Geraint Thomas on Grand Tour leadership: 'It’s something I still want to give another go'
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas says that leading a Grand Tour team remains his primary objective.
Geraint Thomas has confirmed that he still wants to ride a Grand Tour for Team Sky as leader, and that he hopes his mishaps in 2016 are behind him for good.
The Welshman was Sky’s co-leader at the Giro d’Italia alongside Mikel Landa, but a now infamous crash involving a police motorbike on stage nine put paid to both riders’ general classification hopes, with Thomas abandoning on stage 12.
He recovered to ride in support of Chris Froome at the Tour de France and won the opening prologue to take his maiden yellow jersey, but another crash on stage nine forced him out of the race.
Back racing at the Tour of Britain this week, Thomas is still eyeing leadership duties at a three-week race. “It’s something I still want to give another go,” he said.
“I feel like I am getting better each year and hopefully this year has got all the bad luck out of the way!
“I take a lot of confidence out of the fitness I had before the Giro – I was doing the best numbers I’d ever done and that gives you confidence in training.
>>> Two riders disqualified from Tour of Britain for riding on pavement to attack from bunch
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“We’ll have to look at the race routes [for the Giro, Tour and Vuelta a España] before we decide what my race programme is going to be. But I’m already excited for next year.”
Thomas headlines Sky’s six-man team at the Tour of Britain, but he is mostly working on behalf of sprinter Elia Viviani, as well as regaining his race form ahead of the World Championships, where he has backed Ben Swift, Pete Kennaugh or Ian Stannard to potentially win.
There is a 10-mile time trial in Clacton-on-Sea in the Tour of Britain on Thursday, but Thomas has dismissed his own prospects against a field including the last two world champions in the discipline: Katusha-Alpecin’s Tony Martin and Sky’s Vasil Kiryienka.
“If I do good, that’s good, but there’s no real pressure,” he said. “I will get stuck in, and will go as quick as I can, but I won’t be good enough to win it, I have to be realistic.
“I’m still finding my legs. Riding at 300-400 watts is fine, but when it comes to the leadouts I’m struggling with that top end. It’s just nice to be back racing, and especially on home roads.”
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
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
I'm about to turn 40 - how can I keep riding fast?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
By Charlie Graham-Dixon Published
-
Life Time Grand Prix to have fewer riders and wild cards in 2025
The flagship US gravel series has confirmed the six races that will be a part of the competition next year
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers have had their worst season ever, and the woes appear not to be over. What’s next for the super-team of a bygone era?
With Tom Pidcock possibly off to Q36.5 and Luke Rowe leaving, the news is not quiet around the British WorldTour squad
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel puts transfer speculation to bed ahead of World Championships road race
'I'll stay where I am' says Double Olympic champion as he confirms he will remain at Soudal Quick-Step next season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'You can't sugarcoat it' - Luke Rowe says Ineos Grenadiers are 'underperforming'
British squad's experienced road captain believes his team has been "overtaken" by others
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Steve Cummings replaced by Tom Pidcock's coach in Tour of Britain management team shake-up at Ineos Grenadiers
Cummings was on the provisional start list submitted to the race organiser, but was replaced by Kurt Bogaerts
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Dan Bigham becomes Head of Engineering at Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
After winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Bigham then left his role at Ineos due to his frustrations with the setup currently in place at the team
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe confirmed for Tour of Britain Men
Double Olympic champion and Alaphilippe headline Soudal Quick-Step team selection
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert’s 2023 Tour of Britain prize money still in limbo
Funds still outstanding after British Cycling agreed to honour prize money
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Olympic mountain bike champion 'had no choice' but to leave Ineos Grenadiers to race on the road
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot signed for Visma-Lease a Bike this week due to Ineos Grenadiers still lacking plans for a Women’s WorldTour team
By Tom Thewlis Published <