Mark Cavendish explains how 'selfless and loyal' Geraint Thomas tried to help him win a stage at the 2018 Tour de France
Cavendish wrote in a column for the Telegraph how Thomas tried to help pace him back to his team-mates on the first stage of the Tour de France


Mark Cavendish has described how 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) tried to help him win a stage of this year's race after he'd found himself separated from his Dimension Data team-mates.
Cavendish, in an emotive column in the Telegraph (opens in new tab) paying tribute to his friend Thomas, said that the act exemplified "just what a good mate he is, and how selfless and loyal" he is.
>>> How Geraint Thomas won the 2018 Tour de France
Thomas sealed overall victory at the Tour de France on Sunday in Paris on the final stage, after a dominant performance throughout the three weeks that saw him beat Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) to second and four-time Tour winner and team-mate Chris Froome into third.
Thirty-time stage winner Cavendish has known the Welshman since they were teenagers, racing and living together in Manchester during their time at the British Cycling academy. The pair also rode on the road together for T-Mobile and for Team Sky during Cavendish's one year with the squad in 2012.
Cavendish described how towards the end of stage one from Noirmoutier-en-l'Île to Fontenay-le-Comte he found himself in some trouble and falling out of contention for the stage, but was immediately offered a helping hand from his old friend.
"It was a sprint stage so it was one I was targeting," Cavendish wrote.
"But with around six or seven kilometres remaining I got separated from my team-mates and ended up on the outside of the group, in the wind. I was never going to get back up on my own. Then all of a sudden I hear a voice. 'Cav!' I look right and it’s G. He was like: 'Come on mate, I’ll get you back up there.'
"Afterwards I messaged him and said: 'Listen mate, thank you so much, but don’t be wasting your energy on me. Keep everything for these three weeks. You can do this.' But that’s G. His reply was: 'I will always help if I can.' He is selfless to a fault."
Manxman Cavendish struggled in this year's Tour after a season blighted by crashes. He was unable to feature in the sprint stages he rode in, before missing the time cut on the stage 11 summit finish to La Rosière, which was won by Thomas and propelled him into yellow.
Cavendish said it was "emotional" to see Thomas move into the overall lead while he faced leaving the Tour, but also praised current Team Sky performance manager Rod Ellingworth for waiting for him as he crossed the finish line alone, over an hour after Thomas had won.
Ellingworth had been the coach that looked after the pair and other riders during their early days at the British Cycling academy and had been instrumental in helping Cavendish to his World Championship win in 2011. Cavendish says Ellingworth had instilled a "don't give up" mentality in the academy riders, which is why he refused to abandon the Tour during the stage.
"OK, there was talent, but I think more than the talent, it was an attitude that he instilled in us. You don’t give up. You don’t leave your mates," Cavendish wrote.
"It’s why it was so emotional for me when I abandoned this Tour after stage 11. G won and moved into yellow and I missed the time cut.
"Rod, though, waited for me near the finish, rather than be with his rider who had just taken the lead of the Tour. He truly cares for all us lads and I can’t put into words how much I appreciated him being there for me at that moment."
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
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
Inside the first Global Bike Festival: Road, gravel and mountain biking come together in the Austrian Alps
Cycling Weekly was there to find out why hundreds of people travelled to Austria with their bikes for a weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Should cyclists be worried about skin damage? All you need to know about protecting yourself from harmful rays
As high summer approaches, promising long hours of sun-drenched cycling, here’s what you need to know about the dangers posed by the sun and how to reduce the risk
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
'Dismiss Geraint Thomas at your peril' — Bradley Wiggins sees Welshman as Tour de France 'underdog'
Ineos Grenadiers rider will head to Tour off the back of Tour de Suisse win
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: It would be a 'real shame' if Mark Cavendish wasn't at the Tour de France
Cavendish's former teammate and Madison partner thinks it would be "crazy" not to pick him
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'It’s super nice to be at the pointy end again' — Geraint Thomas back in Tour de France conversation after Tour de Suisse victory
Ineos Grenadier rider reminds peloton of his GC ability by triumphing in Switzerland
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Geraint Thomas takes overall victory at Tour de Suisse as Remco Evenepoel wins stage eight time-trial
The Welshman has found his form ahead of the Tour de France
By Pete Trifunovic • Published
-
Adam Yates out of Tour de Suisse with covid
Brit returns a positive test for coronavirus but the rest of Ineos Grenadiers will race on in Switzerland.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
A look at Mark Cavendish's big day out on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider made the time cut, but did so much more
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Odd one out: Why was Mark Cavendish in the early break on Giro d'Italia queen stage?
It really is not a day for the fast men in the Alps
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
By Adam Becket • Published