Geraint Thomas says Team Ineos has better riders but he wants to target 2020 Tour de France
The Welshman still has his own ambitions, but may have to support his team-mates
Geraint Thomas admits there are better riders in the Team Ineos roster, but still wants to chase glory in the 2020 Tour de France.
The surprise winner of the 2018 Tour followed up with second in this year’s edition, as his 22-year-old team-mate Egan Bernal emerged victorious.
In an interview with The Guardian, published ahead of the BBC documentary about the Welshman, Thomas was asked if he was frustrated by Bernal’s meteoric rise in the Tour, having spent years in service of Chris Froome.
The 33-year-old said: “Yes, to be honest.
“When there are better riders it’s obvious.
“It’s a team sport and those two guys are special.”
Thomas soared into the lead during the 2018 Tour de France by winning two stages, and holding on to the yellow jersey ahead of Tom Dumoulin, with Chris Froome finishing third.
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In the 2019 edition, Thomas went into the race as joint leader with Egan Bernal after Froome’s awful crash at the Critérium du Dauphiné that took him out for the season.
Ineos were the dominant force in the final week of the Tour, but it was Bernal who sealed the top step after the mountain stage to Tignes was neutralised due to landslides, Thomas finishing second.
Thomas has previously said leadership at the Giro d’Italia would motivate him, but says he now wants to focus on the 2020 Tour.
He said: “I’m looking at targeting the Tour. We need to confirm it all, to chat it through, but at the moment it’s all about the Tour again.”
>>> Could you help fuel Chris Froome? Team Ineos are hiring a performance nutritionist
Team Ineos will boast multiple Grand Tour winners next year, as Chris Froome is expected to return from injury, Bernal hoping to capitalise on his breakthrough 2019, Thomas riding and Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carpaz joining from Movistar.
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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