Geraint Thomas compared his Tour de France jour sans as being like “a cheap little Ikea nail”, after he slipped out of fourth place overall on Friday’s 19th stage to La Toussuire.
Thomas dropped to 15th on GC, 27-24 behind team-mate Froome, having finished exactly 22 minutes behind stage winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) atop the ski resort.
Looking tired, yet nonetheless willing to talk to the media, the Welshman admitted he didn’t think his top five dreams would end on today’s 138-kilometre Alpine stage.
“I don’t even know what happened, actually,” he said. “I was just empty today.
“It [having a bad day] was always going to happen, but I was hoping it was going to come on Monday. I just didn’t have anything.
“As they say, sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you’re the nail. I was a cheapy little Ikea one today. It was terrible.”
Thomas was buoyed upon hearing that Movistar’s Nairo Quintana had only gained 32 seconds on Sky team-mate Chris Froome on the 18-kilometre finishing climb.
“That’s all good,” he added. “One more day to go.”
Geraint Thomas: Where it all began
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
-
-
Tweets of the week: The news won't stop; Visma-Soudal-Amazon; and what will Roglič do?
In a week where seemingly everything and nothing has happened, everyone has been hard at work on social media
-
Scrap road building to pay for fixing potholes, says Green Party
Party's transport spokesman tells Cycling Weekly that the big issue with potholes is vast sums of money stripped from local government budgets
-
Ineos Grenadiers: 'We hope Geraint Thomas does the Tour de France another couple of times'
The Welshman and his team have opened the door to his Tour return
-
'I’ve got the rest of my life to chill and drink cocktails' - Geraint Thomas going all-in at the Vuelta a España
Ineos Grenadiers leader ready for Spanish Grand Tour, three months after finishing second at Giro d'Italia
-
'I thought I was more in the door than I was' - Luke Rowe bares all on Vuelta a España snub
Welshman will not race a Grand Tour this year after he missed out on selection by Ineos Grenadiers
-
Geraint Thomas to lead Ineos Grenadiers at 2023 Vuelta a España
Welshman joins Vuelta debutants Filippo Ganna and and Kim Heiduk in British team's line-up
-
‘I hope I get a cow’ - Josh Tarling aiming for the top prize at World Championships
Welshman competing in elite men’s individual time trial on Friday afternoon
-
'All being well I’ll still be racing next year' but 'it's coming to an end' - Geraint Thomas on Ineos Grenadiers future
'It's nice to be arriving at a Worlds in decent nick' says the Welshman ahead of individual time trial in Stirling
-
Carlos Rodriguez credits BMX skills with Tour de France stage win
Ineos Grenadiers rider dedicates his victory to his parents
-
'We just have to keep trying': Ineos Grenadiers ready to attack at the Tour de France
'You never know' British team's DS Steve Cummings says anything is still possible at French Grand Tour
