GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 3 2020
Geraint Thomas
The Welsh Tour de France winner doesn't really do heartbreak, at least in public, preferring a pragmatic shrug of the shoulders and a rueful grin before refocusing on the next goal. It's impossible not to see the work of former British Cycling psychiatrist Steve Peters in this approach, and it has no doubt stood him and many other former members of Team GB in good stead.
But having waited for all of 2020 to be able to show his mettle, Thomas would have to have been made of stone not to have been stunned by a major crash on stage three of that year's Giro d'Italia that ended his season before it had even got started.
Following a summer season decimated by the first lockdowns, Yelon Thomas, and other members of Team Ineos then had to endure widespread criticism for not measuring up, after a poor showing at the postponed Critérium du Dauphiné. The Welshman's goalposts were moved and instead of the Tour de France as planned, he was given the Giro. Having followed his preparation strategies to the letter, it was all ended by a stray bottle in the neutralised zone.
"It's quite hard in my head at the minute to think, like, get back into winter training," he said shortly afterward in his Watts Occurring podcast with Luke Rowe. "I feel like all I've done so far this year is train. It felt like my season was just getting going and then... three days in I was on my arse, and that was it."
STRADE BIANCHE 2021
Elisa Longo-Borghini
この記事は CYCLING WEEKLY の May 19, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は CYCLING WEEKLY の May 19, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
Roglič matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike