Thomas on track to take out Tour

CYCLING: Geraint Thomas has broken down in tears after a composed time trial performance ensured he would win the Tour de France.

Thomas was set to seal the biggest win of his life overnight on the Champs Elysees after finishing third in yesterday’s hilly 31km race against the clock.

The Welshman was 13 seconds behind Team Sky teammate Chris Froome and 14 behind stage winner Tom Dumoulin – the same trio that will stand on the Champs Elysees podium.

Thomas, who had kept his emotions in check since since seizing the yellow jersey on Stage 11, started crying yesterday as the enormity of his achievement sunk in.

“I can’t believe it. I’m welling up, man. I don’t know what to say. It’s just ... overwhelming. I didn’t think about it all race, and now suddenly... I won the Tour,” Thomas said.

“I felt good, I felt strong. I felt really good, actually. I heard I was up and maybe I was pushing it a bit hard on some of those corners. Nico (Team Sky sports director Nicolas Portal) told me to relax, take it easy and just make sure I won the Tour. And that’s what I did.

“I can’t speak. It’s just incredible. I believed I could beat the guys here, but to do it on the biggest stage of all, over three weeks, it’s insane.”

It is Team Sky’s sixth Tour title in eight years, but in Thomas they have a fresh face poised to stand on the top step.

The Welshman won two stages, both of them summit finishes in the Alps, and answered every challenge his rivals threw at him.

And as a long-time domestique working in the service of others, this is his overdue moment in the spotlight.

Dumoulin’s win in French Basque country was made all the more impressive after an early morning “wardrobe malfunction” threatened to ruin his day.

The Dutchman lost his world champion skinsuit, forcing Team Sunweb officials into a panicked rush to find a last-minute replacement.