Geraint Thomas left disappointed after losing time on Col du Tourmalet
The Welshman was forced to drop from the front group on Tour de France stage 14
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter


Geraint Thomas (Ineos) is racing to defend his 2018 Tour de France title but admits that he is "disappointed" after the first big summit finish stage in this year's race.
Thomas slipped behind in the closing kilometre of the 19km summit finish on the Col du Tourmalet and lost 36 seconds to rivals Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step). He now sits second at 2-02 behind Frenchman Alaphilippe
>>> Team Ineos will change approach as Geraint Thomas loses time on stage 14 of Tour de France
"It's not the best day," Thomas said at the pass at 2,115 metres.
"I just didn't feel quite on it from the start. I was quite weak."
Thomas began to slip behind in the group which also contained Ineos team-mate Egan Bernal and other rivals such as Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma), third at 2-14 minutes now. Pinot won the stage with an acceleration in the final 200m to top of the Tourmalet.
"At the end, I knew I just had to pace it. I didn't really attempt to follow when they kicked. I just thought I should ride my own pace rather than follow them and blow up on the steepest bit at the end," continued Thomas.
"It's disappointing. I just tried to limit the damage."
The Welshman last year used the first two mountain stages to establish leadership in the Tour de France team with Chris Froome and to take the race lead. However, the first big stages of the 2019 Tour haven't gone that same way.
Julian Alaphilippe remains in the famous yellow top for a 10th day. Thomas, however, thinks time is on his side with several mountain days to come, beginning with the summit finish stage to Prat d'Albis tomorrow.
"We will see the next few days. From the start I just didn't feel great today," Thomas said
"There's still a lot to come."
When asked if a repeat Tour win was still within reach. Thomas responded, "Why not?"
Thank you for reading 5 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

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Ask a cycling coach: ‘Why do I always get out of breath before my legs are tired?’
The answer isn’t that you just need to train more...
By James Spragg • Published
-
History made: five talking points from the Tour de France Femmes
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: Our key takeaways from the women’s Tour de France revival
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Adam Yates and Ineos Grenadiers discuss contract extension with Briton not assured of same Grand Tour opportunities
The Briton joined Ineos Grenadiers two years ago and is thought to be attracting interest from elsewhere
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Leo Hayter joins Ineos Grenadiers as stagiaire before turning pro with team in 2023
Baby Giro winner will move to highest level next season alongside his brother with British team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Dave Brailsford admits Geraint Thomas proved Ineos management wrong at Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers director of sport lauds performance of Welshman along with Tom Pidcock
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour de France 2022: Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 on Hautacam to increase gap to Tadej Pogačar in second place
Danish rider wins a second stage to increase his grip on the overall lead ahead of Pogačar
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Geraint Thomas consolidates Tour de France podium spot
Ineos Grenadiers captain accepts that overturning advantage of Jonas Vingegaard or Tadej Pogačar will be 'hard'
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Five things to look out for during week three of the Tour de France 2022
From Ineos Grenadiers trying something on to the sprinters' last gasp chances
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
‘I’ve still got the TT up my sleeve’: Geraint Thomas pins GC hopes on final Tour de France time trial
'If a situation works for both of you then yeah, definitely we’d work together' - Welshman refuses to rule out alliance with Tadej Pogačar
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘He came to me and said Jumbo are struggling’ - Tadej Pogačar seeks alliance with Geraint Thomas
With a depleted team the UAE Emirates leader was looking for allies on stage 14, he didn’t find them at Ineos Grenadiers
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published