This year’s journey to yellow may have started in the Vendée and ended in Paris but Geraint Thomas’s Tour de France career had many a twist and turn before it got there
2010
STAGE 3 WANZE > ARENBERG PORTE DU HAINAUT
It was only Thomas’s third Grand Tour and his first Tour de France since his debut in London three years earlier. However, this was a more polished Thomas resplendent in the British champion’sjersey in Team Sky’s first Tour de France.
Rather than just glide round the cobbles and stay out of trouble, the 24-year-old drove the front group to maintain their gap before taking second on the sprint to the line behind stage victor and eventual green jersey winner Thor Hushovd. Thomas’s performance resulted in a stint in the white jersey, which he would hold until stage seven, the one shining light in a disappointing debut Tour de France for Sky.
2013
STAGE 1 PORTO-VECCHIO > BASTIA
After a year’s hiatus from the Tour to focus on the team pursuit on the track at the London Olympics, Thomas’s return started with a bang, unfortunately not the bang he would have hoped for.
On a stage that will be remembered for the Orica-GreenEdge team bus getting stuck underneath the finish gantry, Thomas found himself crashing on the run-in to Bastia. A fractured pelvis looked like it might end his race before it had even begun, as he was lifted onto the bike to roll home in last place.
Denne historien er fra December 6, 2018-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
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Denne historien er fra December 6, 2018-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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