Yellow jersey lifts Thomas
Thomas a Brit special and so is Froome
A CHILDHOOD dream came true for Geraint Thomas yesterday as the Cardiff-born rider became Britain’s eighth leader of the 103-year-old Tour de France.
Thomas (below) blasted home victorious in the Tour’s opening time trial in Dusseldorf to clinch the yellow jersey and simultaneously give Sky a massive morale boost.
He said: “I grew up watching the Tour, it’s what got me into cycling in the first place when I was ten.
“I used to run home from school when I was a kid to watch the last ten kilometres of each stage.”
“It’s an amazing feeling, taking the jersey.”
Chris Froome finished sixth, well ahead of all his main rivals.
CHRIS FROOME’S battle for a fourth Tour de France got off to a superb start yesterday as Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas powered through the rain for victory and the first race lead.
In a spectacular collective performance, Sky placed four riders in the top eight with Froome in sixth place, well ahead of all his main rivals.
But Thomas was clearly Sky’s man of the day as he blasted around the flat time trial course in central Dusseldorf, crossing the line five seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Stefan Kung.
Thomas, who is Wales’ first-ever Tour de France leader, said: “It was so nerve-racking, I thought someone was going to beat me – but it’s an amazing feeling.”
Winning the Tour’s opening stage was sweet sporting revenge for Thomas, who crashed against a poorly-parked police motorbike in the Giro d’Italia in May and had to abandon the event But the 31-year-old, a multiple gold medallist in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, has bounced back for the Tour in style. He added: “It was tough after leaving the Giro. But then I got everything assessed and I started riding again after a week. Having the Tour as a goal kept me focused. Without it I’d be three kilos heavier and going pretty slowly right now.” A keen rugby fan, Thomas said the British and Irish Lions’ victory over the All Blacks yesterday had given him a boost, adding: ‘‘I know a few of the guys and it was a great win – and I was buzzing from that.” Froome was delighted both with his sixth place, gaining time on all his main rivals for the general classification, and Thomas’ win.
The three-times Tour champion said: “It’s super for the team and I’m really pleased for him. I’ve been training hard for this for the last three weeks and it’s paid off.”
The waterlogged circuit saw several top riders fall heavily and many crashes, with former Tour podium finisher Alejandro Valverde coming off the worst.
The Movistar Team rider skidded hard when taking a left-hand bend at speed and slammed at full tilt into the barriers. He is out of the race with a suspected broken kneecap.
Meanwhile Thomas will have plenty of time to savour his first day in yellow on today’s long, flat stage from Dusseldorf to Liege in Belgium. He said: “I’ve no idea how long I can keep it, the overall goal doesn’t change and Froomey’s still the leader.”