Geraint Thomas says he didn’t want to ride the 2020 Tour de France in support of another rider.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider was initially expected to head to the Tour as joint leader with reigning champion Egan Bernal, before the team made the surprising announcement that Thomas would not be racing.
Instead, the 2018 Tour winner is currently racing in Italy at Tirreno-Adriatico and will be leading a squad at the Giro d’Italia in October.
Offering his thoughts on not riding the Tour, Thomas told Cycling News: “I didn’t feel 100 per cent and I didn’t want to go to the Tour in a different role.
"I’m at an age when I want to use all the opportunities I can.”
Thomas admitted he wasn’t at full fitness for the Tour and said that the Giro d’Italia route, which includes three time trials, suits him.
The Welshman looked to be a strong choice for Ineos to ride the Tour de France, either in support of Egan Bernal or as co-leader.
But he appeared to struggle through the Critérium du Dauphiné just before the Tour, with the team later announcing that Thomas would ride the Giro instead.
He is currently preparing at Tirreno-Adriatico, where he has safely made it through the first two sprint stages.
On his current form, the 34-year-old said: “Coming into the race I had three super-easy days to really just recover and come in fresh after a good block of training so yeah.
“I just felt a little blocked but that's only normal really. That's how I normally feel after some easy days, but it's nice to be back in the groove now with the boys and after a couple of stages you kind of find that rhythm again."
>>> Colombians propose alliance to bring down Slovenians at Tour de France
He added “Obviously, it's been quite a while since I've done a bunch sprints so that you know trying to stay out of trouble. not like you need reminding but just getting used to that stress again, but our boys ride really well.”
-
'He was just some chav from the Isle of Man when I first met him': Geraint Thomas reflects on Mark Cavendish's history-making Tour de France returnThe 2018 Tour de France winner says it's like turning back time seeing the Manxman winning at the Tour de France again
-
Geraint Thomas says Tour de France collapse is 'tough on the head'
The Welshman is still battling through injuries sustained in a crash on stage three
-
Tour de France: Geraint Thomas and Primož Roglič dropped early on stage eight
The two riders who were pre-race favourites alongside Tadej Pogačar finished in the grupetto over half an hour after the stage winner
-
Tour de France 2021: Geraint Thomas says 'I’m suffering but hopefully I start to feel better soon'
The Ineos co-leader is concerned about the mountain stages this weekend
-
Geraint Thomas expects aggressive start to Tour de France mountains: 'We'll see how UAE hold up in the Alps'
The Welshman has promised an exciting race for fans as Ineos and Jumbo-Visma have no option but to attack Tadej Pogačar
-
Geraint Thomas reacts to Mark Cavendish’s Tour de France stage win
'I’ve got to say I was a little surprised...I hope he doesn’t hear me say that, but I thought he always had a chance’
-
Update: No broken bones for Geraint Thomas, will be reassessed before Tour de France stage four
The Welshman did not suffer a fracture in his right shoulder after crashing on stage three and will be checked over again by the Ineos medics in the morning
-
Five talking points from stage three of the Tour de France 2021
Just five? We could write 55. More crashes, a shake-up in the GC and another win for a non-WorldTour team
