From prince of Wales to king of France
When Geraint Thomas rides into Paris today in the yellow jersey worn by the leader of the Tour de France, there will be a corner of the United Kingdom where the cheers will be particularly loud.
Barring disaster during what is traditionally a processional route to the French capital, the 32-year-old will step on to the winner’s podium this afternoon.
That achievement will find its most enthusiastic supporters in Cardiff, where Thomas was born and went to school, attending a local comprehensive and cutting his competitive teeth at his nearby cycling club – the Maindy Flyers. Thomas all but ensured his win today by maintaining an overall lead of 1min 51secs over Tom Dumoulin, his nearest rival, after yesterday’s time trial.
In the Cardiff suburb of Birchgrove, he is remembered as someone who has not forgotten his roots. It was typical of Thomas that midway through the Tour he took time to send a video message to the sick 14-year-old daughter of Debbie Wharton, his coach in the early Nineties, telling her to “keep fighting”.
Steve Williams, his former PE teacher, told The Sunday Telegraph: “Ultimately, Geraint is a baseline bloke. He kept his feet on the floor, and he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.” Back home they reckon Thomas will handle the fame that victory in the Tour will bring. “I think that sort of character – who has a lot of inner strength – will be coping pretty well,” said Mr Williams. “He’ll be a very sad man when he has to come off his bike, because that’s what he loves doing.” Sport: Pages 1-3