Thomas signs on for three more years with Sky

Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas has signed a new three-year contract with Team Sky.

The British squad announced that he will stick with the team he joined from their inception in 2010, until 2021.

Thomas told teamsky.com: “I’m pleased it’s sorted – and delighted to be staying with the team.”

The announcement was made ahead of yesterday’s final stage of the Tour of Britain, which Thomas has been riding this week.

France’s Julian Alaphilippe wrapped up overall victory in the Tour as Australia’s Caleb Ewan won the final stage on London’s Regent Street.

As expected, the 77-kilometre eighth and final stage finished in a bunch sprint, with Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) winning ahead of Fernando Gaviria (QuickStep-Floors) and Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal).

Alaphilippe protected his 17second lead on Saturday’s penultimate stage and completed victory ahead of Holland’s Wout Poels (Team Sky).

Simon Yates retained the race leader’s red jersey on stage 15 of La Vuelta to increase the likelihood of all three Grand Tours being won by Britons.

After Chris Froome’s Giro d’Italia triumph in May and Geraint Thomas’ Tour de France success in July, there could be a unique hat-trick if Yates can hold on for another week, to the finish in Madrid. He holds a lead of 26 seconds over Spain’s Alejandro Valverde.