THOMAS RELIEF

Van’s still the man — but Sky are let off lightly

GERAINT Thomas missed out on claiming the Tour de France’s yellow jersey when Belgium’s Greg van Avermaet delivered a remarkable performance on the race’s first day in the mountains to cling on to the race lead.

As French fans celebrated their first Tour stage win this year, thanks to lone finisher Julian Alaphilippe, Van Avermaet came home fourth and extended his lead in the overall standings.

‘Hats off to Van Avermaet. He produced a really strong ride so he deserves to have the jersey for another day,’ said Thomas.

Thomas admitted that he and Sky co- leader Chris Froome had expected their rivals to apply more pressure on the first of three tough days in the Alps. ‘I think they got put off a bit because there was a bit of a headwind and we were setting such a good tempo on the front.’

Sky’s only worry came when Froome punctured on a dirt road across the Plateau des Glieres, high in the Alps. ‘I had a little bit of a Wacky Races moment. A team-mate gave me his rear wheel but it was flat too,’ said Froome. ‘Thankfully it happened a long way from the finish.’

Today’s mountain stage to La Rosiere is likely to be more eventful. Thomas tackled the climb on the Criterium du Dauphine last month, which he won, and expects the favourites to be more aggressive. ‘It’s a short stage, a summit finish, so there’s sure to be a lot going on. I think it will be full gas from the first climb,’ said Thomas.

Sky supremo Sir Dave Brailsford laughed off Sir Bradley Wiggins’s claim that he is ‘divisive’, playing his two leaders off against each other. ‘I’ve been called a lot worse — on my Richter scale, that’s not bad. I can take that,’ said Brailsford.