Geraint Thomas: Returning to Tour de France as champion is a 'much more intense' experience
The defending Tour champion says the biggest change is he now gets asked many more questions, especially in the absence of Chris Froome

Geraint Thomas (Ineos) has said that returning to the Tour de France as defending champion has been a much more "intense" experience, one that has been amplified by the absence of team-mate and fellow Tour winner Chris Froome.
Speaking on his new podcast with fellow Welshman and Ineos rider Luke Rowe, the pair discuss the opening week of the Tour, sharing the frustrations and anxieties of being involved in the biggest race of the year.
>>> We spoke to the person who took ‘that’ picture of Geraint Thomas’ Tour de France crash
"It's been stressful, but as a first week of the Tour it's the best I've ever done," said Luke Rowe, who as Ineos' road captain is often tasked with guiding the squad through a hazardous first week of fast racing and crashes.
"I just s**t myself every time with 3km to go," Thomas adds, "and you're sat behind the sprinters and they are these big guys bouncing around, chopping each other, throwing their bikes. You've got to stay in their slipstream, but you're thinking you just want to get to the finish in one piece.
"Especially after stage one, when I did have a buffer but ended up toppling over...you just dread those finishes."
The stresses on the bike don't necessarily end as soon as the peloton crosses the finish line, with Thomas saying the added media attention at this year's race following his surprise Tour victory in 2018 has been intense.
Thomas said: "I've boycotted- I don't list to journalists anyway, they've got a right...[Rowe interrupts: 'chip on their shoulder'] something, haven't they, to make a story. A lot was made of [me losing time to Egan Bernal on stage three], and then a lot was made of mine and Egan's leadership.
"It was a little mistake from me, suddenly because I'm a second behind the back rider, which was actually Egan, and they give the time to Michael Matthews (Sunweb) who is five seconds up the road so you lose five seconds, which is a bit frustrating."
Rowe added: "In the cycling world, stories like that will get written but when it's the Tour de France, you're the defending champ, Egan is co-leader with you, he's in the front split, it just gets blown out of proportion, everyone's questioning your form."
"It's the first week, there's not a lot going on, that's the biggest change from last year, when Froomey's been here before and I haven't been the reigning champ, I get half the questions," the 2018 Tour winner said.
Thomas revealed that frustration with the media questioning his form was part of the reason he decided to lay down a marker on stage six's summit finish on La Planche des Belles Filles, where he finished fourth, taking time out of all of his GC rivals.
"No-one gave a s**t before, now it's so much more intense. I want to stop swearing but it's bulls**t. People trying to make stories, journalists trying to over-analyse and be too clever. That's why it was good to put a marker down and put everyone in their places."
Despite this flash of frustration, Thomas then returned to his usual wry self, saying "this is another reason why we're doing this podcast, so we don't have to speak to journalists any more."
Thomas currently sits fifth on GC at the 2019 Tour de France, four seconds ahead of team-mate Egan Bernal and trailing Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) by 19 seconds.
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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Best bicycle insurance, including what you need to know and how to compare
Wondering how to protect your pride and joy? Our helpful guide tells you all you need to know about bicycle insurance
By Hannah Bussey • Published
-
Five talking points from stage eleven of the Giro d’Italia 2022
The Cycling Weekly highlights package from the stage which finally saw an Italian win at the home race this year
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers insist they had a 'good day' on stage four of the Giro d'Italia, amid confusing tactics
The train returned, but Pavel Sivakov was dropped on Mount Etna
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Pavel Sivakov: 'I’m really happy to be back to my level'
Ineos Grenadiers rider in break at Tour of the Alps, caught with under 10km to go
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'You gotta love bike racing don't you, it's the best thing in the world' — Ben Turner after a dramatic first Paris-Roubaix
Ineos Grenadiers rider claims 11th after crashing, but sees teammate win race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From finishing outside the time limit to winning Paris-Roubaix, Dylan van Baarle 'buzzing' after victory
Dutch rouleur claims first Paris-Roubaix for Ineos Grenadiers after 12 years of trying
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers head to Paris-Roubaix without one 'pure leader', but lots of options
Filippo Ganna is a favourite for the race, but says he doesn't know why
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Paris-Roubaix
British squad announce seven man team for Hell of the North
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Maybe we need to lose a few races so we don’t get too confident' - are Ineos Grenadiers the form Classics team?
Brabantse Pijl performance saw the team win race for second year in a row, with three in top five
By Adam Becket • Published