Geraint Thomas takes bittersweet second place after helping Egan Bernal to Tour de France victory
Thomas says he came to try and win the Tour but can leave satisfied he gave it his all
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter


Geraint Thomas says he is disappointed that he has been unable to win a second consecutive Tour de France, but leaves happy seeing Colombian team-mate Egan Bernal succeed for Team Ineos.
Thomas, after helping Chris Froome win four times, had his chance in 2018. This year, though, he went back to helper role when the race entered its final stages. Doing so, he rode himself into second place at 1-11 down from Bernal.
>>> Five talking points from stage 20 of the Tour de France 2019
"There's a part of me that would want to be on the top step, but at same time, Egan is an amazing guy, he's 22, who knows how many he'll win," Thomas said.
"The way the team has been it's just been incredible. And it couldn't be a nicer guy to win. Egan is truly a genuinely nice, friendly, happy guy pleasure to ride with. And Christ, he's only 22."
Bernal becomes the youngest post-war winner and the first Colombian to do so. Thomas says he is satisfied to help Bernal to that title even if he could not win.
"Well the thing is, before last year, I think nobody even thought I could podium in the Tour and now, it's disappointing I didn't win my second. You have to put it into perspective," Thomas added.
"I for sure wanted to win, but I have to be happy that I gave everything I could to be in the best shape here. For one reason or another sometimes it's not meant to be. I still performed well and feel like I gave everything. The fact that Egan is in front of me makes it OK."
Last year, Chris Froome turned himself inside out to support Thomas. The Welshman had won to La Rosière and in yellow the next day, won the Alpe d'Huez stage.
"It must have been harder for Froomey, he won four already, he was after his fifth last year," Thomas explained. "It just shows we're very good team. We always do everything we can to win as a team."
Bernal will win the team's seventh Tour title assuming he survives the flat stage in Paris tomorrow.
Froome will not be around since he broke his leg in June. Thomas, like Froome suffered this year. He crashed in the Tour de Suisse and could not complete his final Tour preparations. Then, in the Tour, he suffered three minor crashes.
"It's been an eventful year, a lot of ups and downs, mainly downs. I gave everything I could to try to win and for one reason or another, it didn't work," Thomas continued.
"The run up to the Tour wasn't straight forward. In this Tour, it seemed like Murphy's Law: what can go wrong, will go wrong. And luckily, it was nothing major, but it's just little setbacks here and there all the time and the way the tactics worked out at times."
Thomas renewed his contract and with Bernal, they are due to ride in Ineos's colours for the foreseeable future. The team will have to manage their ambitions with others like Froome's.
"I wouldn't say there's a rivalry, but yeah we are both ambitious, and we're at different stages of our career and you know, I've ridden and been loyal for so many team-mates before me.
"It was 10 years of doing it when I get my own opportunity to [win the Tour] but at the same time, when someone like Egan who's in the team as well and he's riding well, there's no shame and no harm if I do my bit for him."
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.
-
-
Would you collaborate with the very people standing between you and your lifelong dream of an Olympic medal?
Olympian Lea Davison's TedX talk reveals the story behind "USlay" and how collaboration is winning even if you lose
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Tom Dumoulin ends career with immediate effect
Dutch former Giro d’Italia winner brings forward retirement from professional cycling
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Egan Bernal to return to racing at Tour of Denmark, eight months after horror crash
Ineos Grenadiers confirm that Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner will race on Tuesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers name young team for Vuelta a España with four Grand Tour debutants
Richard Carapaz expected to lead squad in last Grand Tour for team when they lineup on Friday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Commonwealth Games 2022 preview: the men’s and women’s road race
Both races will take place on Sunday 7 August in the town of Warwick
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Mark Cavendish withdraws from Tour de Pologne to focus on Commonwealth Games
British National Champion due to compete in the road race on Sunday for the Isle of Man
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'He's going to win some big bike races' - Tom Pidcock hails Sam Watson as he turns pro with Groupama-FDJ
U23 British National champion has impressed his French team and more besides
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Commonwealth Games 2022 preview: men’s and women’s time trials
Both races against the clock take place in Wolverhampton on Thursday
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-