GERAINT THOMAS SET TO RACE IN WALES
WALES will be the first to catch a glimpse of Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas back in the saddle when he gears up for the start of the Tour of Britain.
Cycling fans in Carmarthenshire will line the route of the opening stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain to see Thomas race when it sets off from Pembrey Country Park on Sunday, September 2.
Team Sky, fresh from negotiating a new contract with the Welsh rider, has announced that he will lead the team in the Tour of Britain – the UK’s biggest road race.
Thomas is a regular at the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, having ridden it eight times since his debut with a Great British national team in 2005.
Joining him in Team Sky will be Giro d’Italia winner Chris Froome.
The 120 riders and their teams will set off for the televised week-long event. The county will be very much in the spotlight as the 175km Grand Depart stage takes in Kidwelly, Carmarthen and Llandovery, among other towns and villages, before continuing east through Brecon and on to Newport.
Carmarthenshire is relishing the thought of Thomas and Froome rolling into the county. Towy Riders, based at Carmarthen’s velodrome, is no stranger to cycling success and has produced talented riders who have gone on to compete at top level events and part of Team GB.
The news that the Yellow Jersey winner Geraint Thomas will be racing through Carmarthen has been hugely welcomed.
Steve Percey, Towy Riders secretary and club coach said: “Just when we thought having a Welshman on the podium in Paris wasn’t cool enough, he’s riding in the Tour of Britain too. I think Towy Riders are going to go pop with excitement.
“Having the A-list of cycling celebrities starting the tour in Carmarthenshire is truly amazing and a real privilege.
“Having seen them on TV and soon up close for real, it will be the best way of inspiring, let’s hope, the local cycling A-list of tomorrow to reach their goals.”
Mr Percey added the success Thomas has achieved will have a knock-on effect on young sporting talent.
He said: “There’s never been a better time to get on your bike. Learn new skills become healthier and challenge yourself. Cycling is for everyone at any age. We like to start our riders young in Towy riders and with Geraint “Thomas’ recent success and Team Sky amongst other pro riders riding in the ToB, there’s all the proof you need that hard work and staying power can help anyone achieve their goals.
“As ‘G’ said, it’s not what went wrong, it’s ‘what can I do better next time’. What a great message for us all.”
Live televised coverage of the Tour of Britain on ITV4 and Eurosport means the eyes of the world will be on Wales as it hosts the first stage of the race, and Geraint’s inclusion is set to attract even more international attention. Thousands of spectators will line the route, many travelling from outside Carmarthenshire.
Staying and spending locally, the expected economic boost of £4m to South Wales may grow further still.
Carmarthen’s mayor Emlyn Schiavone has also welcomed the addition of Geraint Thomas to the tour, whose father and uncle hail from the nearby village of Bancyfelin.
He said: “It will be a great honour for Carmarthen to welcome and witness the Tour de France winner racing through Carmarthen. He is a brilliant ambassador for Wales and the sport of cycling.
“As a community and county we are very proud of him and his family connection with the Bancyfelin area. The town and county are very pleased to host a part of this memorable event. It consolidates our commitment to promote cycling for all of our residents, both young and old.”