Thomas faces uphill battle
GERAINT THOMAS heads into a career-defining stage in the Pyrenees today admitting: “We’re expecting the worst and hoping for the best.”
If Thomas preserves his two-minute advantage in the yellow jersey over the last batch of monster climbs, he will be within touching distance of a Tour de France triumph.
The Welshman stayed clear of trouble on yesterday’s 107-mile run from Trie-sur-Baise to Pau, won by French sprinter Arnaud Demare.
But he will need his Team Sky team-mates to help shut down waves of attacks from rivals Tom Dumoulin and Nairo Quintana on a lung-busting 19th stage. Thomas said: “We expect a lot of
from MIKE WALTERS in Pau attacks straight from the gun, maybe on the Tourmalet and certainly on the last climb.
“It will be a big test but it’s one for the team to control before the final climb, which will be down to the legs.”
Defending champion Chris Froome, two and a half minutes down on his team-mate in third place, will find himself going back to the future as Team Sky’s Plan B, a throwback to his days as Bradley Wiggins’ sidekick.
Thomas said: “Having someone like Froomey at my disposal, so to speak, is phenomenal, but hopefully he won’t have to do much work anyway.
“The boys will go all in, but we need to be vigilant, stay on our toes and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Froome rides to and from stage starts and finishes with a security guard after his hostile reception from the crowds.
Behaviour towards the defending champion, after Froome was cleared of blame for a high level of asthma medication in one urine sample last September, has been appalling.
Thomas added: “Everyone in the peloton wants to come here and race our bikes. You don’t want people trying to affect the race like that.
It’s not something you want to see.”