Dream start sees Thomas in yellow

GERAINT THOMAS won his first career Tour de France stage, and took the yellow jersey, as Team Sky enjoyed a dream start to the 2017 edition on the soaking streets of Dusseldorf yesterday.

Welshman Thomas completed the opening 14km time trial in 16 INtrominutes, four seconds to win by five seconds from BMC Racing’s Stefan Kung.

His team-mate Chris Froome finished sixth, 12 seconds down, as he opens his bid to win a third straight Tour crown and fourth overall.

Thomas was forced to withdraw from the Giro d’Italia in May after he suffered a shoulder injury during the ninth stage, but he put that behind him with the victory in Germany.

“It’s unreal. The start of my eighth Tour, my 12th Grand Tour and my first stage win. It’s been a long time coming and it’s just an amazing feeling. I didn’t even dream about it last night,” theWelsh rider said.

“It’s been a rough time recently so it’s nice to get this win. It’s unbelievable. I’m lost for words.

“I’ve got a tendency to go about it a bit hard but I’m getting older now and I’m learning my lessons, and today couldn’t have gone any better.”

BMC’s Richie Porte, seen as Froome’s main rival, crossed in a time of 16 minutes 51 seconds, while there was worse news for Nairo Quintana and Movistar as key man Alejandro Valverde crashed out of the race.