THOMAS TELLS MAINDY FLYERS’ KIDS TO ‘DREAM BIG AND BELIEVE’

AFTER being crowned winner of the Tour de France, Geraint Thomas delivered an epic, rambling speech in which he had to be reminded of his team-mate’s names by secondplaced Tom Dumoulin and momentarily forgot to thank his wife Sara. He finished it off with a stylish mic drop.

“I got into cycling because of this race. I remember running home from school to watch the end of the Tour de France and the dream has always been to be a part of it, and that came through 12 years ago back in 2007. Now I’m here, stood in the yellow jersey and it’s just insane. It’s a dream come true.

“Massive respect to Tom (Dumoulin) and all my rivals, it was a great race. It’s just a dream. And I just want to say a final thanks to everyone out there –the crowd, you’ve just been amazing, the amount of support I’ve got... oh, my wife! I forgot about my wife.

“Obviously big thanks to Sara, without you I wouldn’t be stood here. You’ve supported me through thick and thin, obviously the down times.

“And I think that’s the main thing to everyone back home, to the kids at Maindy Flyers – dream big. If people tell you it can’t be done, but you believe in yourself and you work hard. Keep going – you’re going to have knocks, you’re going to have downs, but keep believing and anything is possible. With hard work everything pays off in the end.

“Thanks for all the support, I really appreciate it. It’s been amazing, we all appreciate it. Thanks very much, and vive le Tour!”