Geraint Thomas: GB’s Olympic road race leader still not decided
The leader of the Team GB squad for the men's Olympic road race will be decided closer to the race on August 6
Team GB have a number of potential medal hopes in the men’s Olympic road race, which takes place on August 6, with Geraint Thomas saying the leader of the squad hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Whereas in the 2012 Games when Britain’s medal hopes hinged solely on Mark Cavendish, any one of the five men selected for the race in Rio could come away with a medal.
Thomas lines up alongside Team Sky teammates Chris Froome and Ian Stannard, as well as Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) and Steve Cummings (Dimension Data).
He told Sky Sports News HQ: “We still need to discuss tactics when we are all out there and come up with a plan, but with five guys, we could look at having different winning strategies.
“I don’t think it [team leadership] has been decided yet, so it is something where we will have to make the call once we get out there.”
A preview of the road races and time trials at Rio 2016
He added: “As long as one of us gets a medal, that’s the main thing. Whether it’s me or Froomey or Adam Yates or Stannard, it’s all about just getting a medal for GB.”
Cummings was a late call up to the British squad, with Peter Kennaugh withdrawing through a lack of form and fitness after breaking his collarbone at the Tour of California.
The Dimension Data rider won stage seven of the Tour de France, while Yates performed outstandingly for three weeks to win the young rider classification.
Thomas and Stannard, meanwhile, helped Froome win his third Tour de France title in four years with the Welshman finishing in 15th position in the general classification.