Cycling masterclass to chase after the British crown jewels in final Tour race
Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas and the man whose crown he took in July, Chris Froome, will compete in next month’s Tour of Britain rather than the final Grand Tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana.
Both riders have rarely graced their home Tour in the past decade, Thomas finishing seventh last year in what was his first appearance since 2011 and Team Sky teammate Froome last competing in 2009 when he finished 50th for his previous team Barloworld.
Thomas, 32, was only drawn to compete last year because the race finished in his home city of Cardiff and has been lured back for what will be his first major race since the Tour de France as this year’s edition begins in Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire, Wales, on September 2. The Vuelta gets under way on August 25.
“As soon as I’d finished the Tour I knew I wanted to ride the Tour of Britain and race on home roads,” Thomas told the Team Sky website.
“It starts in Wales which will be special, and then I get to go and race across the whole of the United Kingdom. I can’t wait.
“I want to go to the race in the shape to compete and enjoy it.” Four-time Tour de France champion Froome, who finished third behind Thomas in this year’s Tour, said he had focused on the Vuelta in the past four years finally winning it in 2017.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve raced the Tour of Britain,” said Froome. “I’m really looking forward to riding.”