Geraint Thomas riding for Froome in the Vuelta, with one eye on the World Champs
Geraint Thomas says he could be a contender for the 2015 World Championships road race at the end of September in the USA
Geraint Thomas’s goal over the next three weeks of Vuelta a España is to help Chris Froome win and to sharpen his form for the World Championships two weeks later, September 27, in the USA.
Despite the hype from his Tour de France ride and around his growing grand tour status, he wants to ease off. That showed on Tuesday. He placed well behind when the Spanish grand tour’s fourth stage finished in the whitewashed village of Vejer de la Frontera.
"The Tour gave me the belief that I can be up there, but saying that, I'm not going to be up there in this race," Thomas told Cycling Weekly yesterday morning before the race left Rota, near the Gibraltar Straight.
"It's been a long year, so I didn't want to just come in, keep racing full gas and tail off, and then struggle to finish. I want to go to the Worlds, race there and be in the race."
Thomas wants to lead the British team in Richmond, Virginia, along with sprinters Mark Cavendish and Ben Swift. The idea: if it ends in a classics mano-a-mano fight, Thomas will take over.
>>> Cavendish, Froome and Armitstead named on Britain’s World Champs long list
This season, he proved he has the fight to win. He rode solo away from Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) to take the E3 Harelbeke in Belgium. Despite being blown off the road, he battled back to place third in Ghent-Wevelgem. If he could take a similar punch in Richmond then Great Britain could celebrate its first Worlds title since Cavendish won in Copenhagen in 2011.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I haven't seen the Richmond course, but from what I've heard, it suits a Sagan, Stybar, a classics sort of rider, but also one with a good punch, and possibly Cav can get there as well," Thomas said.
"We'll certainly have a few options. In the last three worlds, I've been just sort of limping to the end of the season and I haven't finished, not since Cav won. Certainly, we'll have a lot better one this year."
Others like Peter Sagan plan to pull out early, but Thomas plans to ride until the end help Froome with this Grand Tour. Next year or later down the line, he could have his chance for the overall. Now, he wants to see Froome in red and win the rainbow jersey in Richmond.
"If Froomey, Nico or whoever is up there on GC, I'd love to stay there for the whole thing and help them out as much as I can," Thomas said.
"I just need to see how the race goes. It's all about not going too deep or too early."
Thomas reached for his water bottle and took a sip, and clipped into his pedals. The race began, one through Spain and to the USA.
Thank you for reading 20 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.
-
Great Britain qualifies full track cycling squad for Paris Olympics
Team GB will now select up to 16 riders to compete across the sprint and endurance events
By Tom Davidson Published
-
7 steps you must not forget when preparing your bike for spring - by a mechanic
Mechanic to pros and amateurs alike, Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
By Glen Whittington Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'Losing the plot in public - it's mental' - Geraint Thomas on Patrick Lefevere's criticism of Julian Alaphilippe
Ineos Grenadiers rider says he feels sorry for his peers who are criticised in public by the Soudal Quick-Step boss
By Adam Becket Published
-
Geraint Thomas to race Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2024
Welshman will return to the Giro in May before heading to the French Grand Tour as part of the Ineos Grenadiers squad
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A complete history of Ineos Grenadiers kits, from Adidas to Gobik, via Rapha
The British team switch to Gobik in 2024 after two years with Bioracer
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: Professional cyclists deserve a life too
Perhaps 12 nights out at the end of the season shouldn't be too bad a thing, really
By Adam Becket Published
-
18-year-old American becomes Ineos Grenadiers first signing for 2024
AJ August will turn pro with British team next season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Geraint Thomas signs two-year contract extension with Ineos Grenadiers, possibly his last
Welsh Tour de France winner will remain with British team until he is 39
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers: 'We hope Geraint Thomas does the Tour de France another couple of times'
The Welshman and his team have opened the door to his Tour return
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published