Injury forces Geoff out of marathon charity ride
FORMER England soccer star Geoff Thomas has been forced to pull out of a gruelling charity cycling challenge through injury.
Littleborough-born Geoff, who played for Rochdale and captained Crystal Palace in the 1990 FA Cup final against Manchester United, survived chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2005.
He was part of a fivestrong team of cyclists attempting to ride the three Grand Tours consecutively, the Giro D’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana in Spain, to help raise £1m.
But on Wednesday Geoff announced he had been forced to pull out of the ride due to a hip infection - but vowed he would return once he had been ‘checked out’. Tweeting pictures of the badly swollen and bruised joint Geoff said: “Hip, a week on just wouldn’t stop swelling up on the bike making it difficult to push hard. Get home, get checked out then go again.”
Earlier he had tweeted: “Very difficult decision this morning, My hip injury has forced me off my bike. Hoping to be fit for rest of the @3ToursChallenge next month.”
The charity Cure Leukaemia, founded in 2003, is aiming to raise £1m in 2017 and all funds raised from the epic challenge will go towards the appeal.
Geoff was taking part alongside team members Doug McKinnon, Marcus Leach, James Maltin and Hayden Groves - all amateur cyclists.
The charity, which supported and helped treat Geoff during his cancer battle, wants to expand the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham to double its capacity for patients, clinical trials and specialist clinicians.
The rest of the team currently riding a stage through the Pyrenees - are to continue the challenge.
They will cycle a total of 10,504km, all in only 63 days. Only 39 professional cyclists have taken on and completed the challenge no amateur or professional team has done it before.
Geoff, who made 11 appearances for Rochdale in 1982 before making his name at Crewe Alexandra then Crystal Palace, winning nine England caps, has been supported along the way by England manager Gareth Southgate.
Speaking last week Geoff said: “I would not be here now without Cure Leukaemia and Professor Charlie Craddock, it is as simple as that.
“Beating blood cancer was my biggest ever challenge but in terms of sporting challenges this will be beyond anything I have ever taken on.”
To donate visit justgivin gcomfundraising/3tours. For full details visit www.3tours challenge. com.