Thomas admits frustrations over doping questions
TOP Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas says elite riders have an obligation to face questions about drugs, following longstanding concerns about doping in the sport.
The Cardiff-born former Olympic champion is currently preparing to lead Team Sky out at one of the sport’s blue riband events, the Giro d’Italia.
In an interview ahead of the race, the 30-year-old opened up on the big issues facing his sport, the controversy surrounding Sir Bradley Wiggins, and his pride in leading out his team in such a prestigious event.
He conceded he was frustrated at the number of times he is asked questions about doping – but understands it comes with the territory.
“There’s obviously an obligation on the top riders to get questions like that,” he told the BBC. “At the same time, it does get frustrating when every interview you do, even post-ride after a stage, you’re getting asked at least one question about it.
“But, at the end of the day, it is still a huge topic in cycling and it’s part of it now.”
The former Olympic gold medallist also said he would not use therapeutic use exemptions substances (TUEs) unless they are medically necessary.
“For me personally, morals and things come into it as well,” he said. “That’s the way I was brought up. As long as I do everything the right way and I only have something off the doc because I actually need it or if I’m injured.”
The issue of TUEs has been in the spotlight since Thomas’ former teammate, Sir Bradley, came under intense scrutiny when hacking group Fancy Bears revealed he had been given TUEs before the 2011 and 2012 Tour de France races, as well as before the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
The racing legend received the goahead from the sport’s British and world authorities to use TUEs to treat his asthma and allergies, and there is no suggestion that any rules were broken. Thomas warned against judging his former colleague’s use of TUEs, and claimed a lot of people in the sport were keen to see Team Sky fail.
He said: “Everything they did went through the right channels and they got it. I’d like to believe he needed it because I’ve known him a long time and I know the way he is and I don’t think he’d go out of his way to cheat.
“When we came onto the scene, we were quite loud about being clean and that probably upset a few people.
“We kind of thought we were better than people in the sport already and made a lot of enemies. I think people just want to bring you down.”
The Giro d’Italia starts on May 5 and is the next step of a stellar seven-year career that has seen Thomas win two Olympic golds in the team pursuit and be part of the road teams that supported Wiggins and Tour de France champion Chris Froome.
The Welshman is now looking forward to a leadership role in a major competition.
“Going into a Grand Tour especially with a team like Team Sky and the success we’ve had up to now is phenomenal, so to be leading a team along with [teammate Mikel] Landa is a massive compliment. I’m relishing it,” he added.