I couldn’t watch, says wife of UK’s new Tour hero
GERAINT THOMAS will today become Britain’s latest cycling superhero when he claims the Tour de France crown on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
But one person who couldn’t help but avert her eyes as the 32-year-old effectively took the title yesterday following a time trial was his wife Sara Elen, 27.
Unknown to the Team Sky rider, Sara had flown in from Cardiff to greet him on the finish line of the penultimate stage of the gruelling 21- day race for an emotional reunion.
‘I just couldn’t watch,’ she told The Mail on Sunday last night. ‘I’m just so relieved and happy. I couldn’t be more proud of him. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me and the whole family at home.
‘I’ve been through the highs and lows of his career, so to see him win the Tour de France is just an incredible feeling.
‘It’s such a great relief to see him achieve this after all he’s been through. Mentally, physically and psychologically he’s been pushed to his limit – but he’s come through it all with flying colours and I’m so proud of him. To see him wearing the yellow jersey in Paris, in the biggest race in the world, will be something special.’
In the thrilling finale to yesterday’s time trial her husband almost came off as he skidded on a rain-soaked corner maintained his overall lead. Sara, a TV presenter who has anchored the coverage of Le Tour for Welsh language channel S4C, arrived just in time to embrace her husband as he triumphantly crossed the line.
By Tour de France convention, the race leader is not challenged on today’s stage, which has traditionally been a ceremonial ride to the French capital, followed by a fast and furious bunch sprint in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe. Even though Thomas is a double Olympic gold medallist in the velodrome, few tipped him for victory in the world’s most famous road race. His team-mate Chris Froome, the defending champion, was the hot favourite as he chased a record-equally fifth victory. But after Froome crashed in the opening stage, Cardiff-born Thomas opened up a lead over his colleague that he never relinquished.
This has been a controversial tour for Team Sky which has been dogged by unprecedented hostility from French crowds. The team has been met with punches, spitting and consistent abuse in the course of the three-week race. In one episode, Thomas and Froome were hit with pepper spray as gendarmes quelled a protest by farmers bent on bringing the tour to a halt.
Thomas – who was the youngest rider in the Tour when he came 140th out of 141 finishers at his first attempt in 2007 – finished third in yesterday’s time trial.
His victory extends a remarkable run of British success in the tour. After Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, Thomas will become the third UK winner of the Tour de France. Between them they have taken six titles in the last seven years.