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Geraint Thomas takes maiden title as Sky extend Tour reign

By Julien Pretot

 

Cycling - Tour de France - The 116-km Stage 21 from Houilles to Paris Champs-Elysees - July 29, 2018 - Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas of Britain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, passes the Arc de Triomphe in the peloton. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Geraint Thomas tightened Team Sky's grip on the Tour de France when he handed the British outfit their sixth title in seven years on Sunday and there is no sign that their domination will end anytime soon.

 

Thomas produced a near flawless performance to become the third British and Team Sky rider to triumph after Bradley Wiggins (2012) and Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017).

 

Dutchman Tom Dumoulin finished second for Team Sunweb after also taking the runner-up spot in the Giro d'Italia won by Froome, who ended up third overall.

 

Norway's Alexander Kristoff won Sunday's final stage, largely a 116km procession from Houilles to the Champs-Elysees, during which Thomas enjoyed some champagne before heading to the finishing line in a bunch sprint.

 

"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 was always just to be part of it and that came true back in 2007," Thomas told the crowd during the victory ceremony.

 

"Now I'm stood here in the yellow jersey and it's just insane. It's incredible and it's a dream come true.

 

"To be riding round (the Champs Elysees) and winning it, you've got to pinch yourself. It won't really sink in probably for a few months. Right now it's like a whirlwind. I seem to be floating around on cloud nine."

 

Froome's failure to beat Thomas also showed how difficult it is to complete a Giro-Tour double, with Marco Pantani being the last man to achieve the feat in 1998 during the doping-tainted era.

 

Thomas, who won two mountain stages - including one on the top of the iconic Alpe d'Huez - emerged as the strongest man in the race as he gained ground on his two rivals after taking the yellow jersey at the end of stage 11.

 

ABSOLUTE STRONGEST

Only in the final time trial did he lose time on Dumoulin and Froome, but he had already virtually wrapped up the title in the mountains.

 

"Thomas was the absolute strongest over the last three weeks," said Dumoulin.

 

"He didn't make any mistakes, he was never put into trouble by anyone – including me – in the mountains or in any stage."

 

"The strongest rider won the Tour de France,” Froome said. “It was clear once we hit the Alps, Geraint was in better condition than I was."

 

Thomas's victory will come as a relief for Sky, especially in the wake of Froome's popularity nose-diving in France after he was cleared of a doping offence months after testing positive for excessive levels of an asthma drug.

 

Froome and other Team Sky riders, including Thomas, were booed by the crowd standing on the side of the road throughout the three-week race.

 

The four-time champion was the main target of the jeers, with one spectator even slapping his shoulder in the climb up to l'Alpe d'Huez.

 

DREAM BIG

While team principal Dave Brailsford hit out at the locals, saying booing and hitting the riders was 'a French thing', both Froome and Thomas kept their composure.

 

Thomas, who was cheered during the podium ceremony, also had a message for riders aged 5-18 at the Maindy Flyers Cycling Club in Wales.

 

"Dream big and go for it. Don't let anything hold you back," he told them.

 

"You're going to have ups and downs but keep the faith and keep fighting. If you believe in something, just go for it and don't let people put you down.

 

"If people don't agree with you, just shut it out and get on with it. With hard work everything pays off in the end," added Thomas, whose victory was marked in his home town with Cardiff City Hall being illuminated in yellow.

 

Thomas and Froome focused on bike racing over the past three weeks, making no mistakes and being well protected by the strongest team in the field.

 

Pundits agreed that the 21-year-old Egan Bernal, who produced some amazing work in the mountains for his leaders on his Tour debut, would probably soon win the race.

 

Sky's domination left the others picking up crumbs.

 

Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, a one-day classic specialist, confirmed his huge potential by winning two stages and taking the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification.

 

World champion Peter Sagan ground through the last days after a heavy crash to secure a record-equalling sixth green jersey for the points classification and France's Pierre Latour emerged as a possible podium finisher in the near future by winning the white jersey for the best under-25 rider.

 

It was, however, a disappointing race for France as Romain Bardet showed his limits when he ended up sixth overall after two podium finishes in 2016 and 2017.

 

No Frenchman has won the race since Bernard Hinault took his fifth title in 1985.

 

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-30

[cornishcarlos]

A very worthy winner... Comes across as a very down to earth guy.

Also credit to Chris Froome, who encouraged and supported when necessary.

 

Sky domination... Must be getting right on the Frenchies titties ?

[evadgib]

Well done but how can he ride and pose in a Welsh flag when the likes of Froome & Wiggens had to settle for a Union Jack during previous wins? I didn't hear what anthem was played but the same applies if it wasn't that of his team & Country.

Well done team Sky & well done Great Britain ?

Edited July 30, 2018 by evadgib

[tifino]

sure lucky for him the early attrition of worthy opponents via crashes; and he was able to make the most of it. 

 

I reckon that Green Jersey battle by Peter Sagan was more noteworthy for consistent real time achievements; with all those daily win win wins of points

[Chomper Higgot]

I watched every stage in this year’s superb tour (including that through the Haute-Savoie where I raced back in the day).

 

This was, I believe, the best tour for years, in no small part because the organizers set a particularly challenging course. 

 

Sadly, as Tafino points out some of the best talent crashed out early in the race, nevertheless the Maillot Jaune was hard fought for and well won. 

 

Geraint Thomas’ performance was flawless as was the support he received from from his team, and of course from Froome. But Tom Dumoulin’s second without the ‘mighty Sky’ was stunning.

 

Peter Sagan was, for me, the man of the race, a rare mix of outstanding ability delivered with character and entertainment.

 

I feel though we were robbed of what would have been a great TdF moment.

 

On the final descent of Stage 16, Julian Alaphilippe was chasing down on Adam Yates, Alaphilippe the better descender was closing the gap and it was setting up for an edge of your seat race to the line.

 

Then Yates fell (attributed to wet on the road, I think breaks snatching on his carbon rims).

 

Then came the moment, Alaphilippe passed Yates who was getting up off the road, and radioed in that he was going to wait for Yates; his race director ordered him to continue and take the stage.

 

What a moment that would have been had Alaphilippe been permitted to wait for Yates and cross the line together as combatants respecting each other more than wanting the win.

 

We wuz robbed.

Edited July 30, 2018 by Chomper Higgot

[Bredbury Blue]

Also enjoyed watching on eurosports coverage and Armstrong / Hincapie vlog TheMove everyday on youtube (leant alot from listening to them - recommend you go back and watch the youtube episodes). Great to see Geraints deserved win. Froome didn't have the legs but fought well and what a time trial...ONE second! 6 out of 7 is very impressive.

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

A very worthy winner... Comes across as a very down to earth guy.

Also credit to Chris Froome, who encouraged and supported when necessary.

 

Sky domination... Must be getting right on the Frenchies titties ?

 

French win soccer world cup, British keep winning Tour de France - 'mad world' comes to mind!

[Presto]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I watched every stage in this year’s superb tour (including that through the Haute-Savoie where I raced back in the day).

 

This was, I believe, the best tour for years, in no small part because the organizers set a particularly challenging course. 

 

Sadly, as Tafino points out some of the best talent crashed out early in the race, nevertheless the Maillot Jaune was hard fought for and well won. 

 

Geraint Thomas’ performance was flawless as was the support he received from from his team, and of course from Froome. But Tom Dumoulin’s second without the ‘mighty Sky’ was stunning.

 

Peter Sagan was, for me, the man of the race, a rare mix of outstanding ability delivered with character and entertainment.

 

I feel though we were robbed of what would have been a great TdF moment.

 

On the final descent of Stage 16, Julian Alaphilippe was chasing down on Adam Yates, Alaphilippe the better descender was closing the gap and it was setting up for an edge of your seat race to the line.

 

Then Yates fell (attributed to wet on the road, I think breaks snatching on his carbon rims).

 

Then came the moment, Alaphilippe passed Yates who was getting up off the road, and radioed in that he was going to wait for Yates; his race director ordered him to continue and take the stage.

 

What a moment that would have been had Alaphilippe been permitted to wait for Yates and cross the line together as combatants respecting each other more than wanting the win.

 

We wuz robbed.

I've raced too, albeit not on the level of pro or stage races. It's of course very nice and all to talk about respect and all that, but in the end of the day it's the rider who controls his bike. If his brakes were 'snatching' the carbon rims, he squeezed the levers too impulsively probably. It could also have been an oily patch on the road. And that's the same for everyone. Once you talk about 'wait, cause: respect', you get into that murky area of the unwritten rules. Which allows teams, like Sky, to yap and complain any time they feel it benefits them. Not the way to go.

 

Great win by Thomas, very consistent, and very strong team of course. And admiration for Dumoulin, second in the Giro, second in the Tour. Without a very good team to support him ... Next year he'll focus on the Tour, which means this year he didn't. That gives you something to think about!

 

Great to watch!

[Bredbury Blue]

On 7/30/2018 at 12:52 PM, Presto said:

I've raced too, albeit not on the level of pro or stage races. It's of course very nice and all to talk about respect and all that, but in the end of the day it's the rider who controls his bike. If his brakes were 'snatching' the carbon rims, he squeezed the levers too impulsively probably. It could also have been an oily patch on the road. And that's the same for everyone. Once you talk about 'wait, cause: respect', you get into that murky area of the unwritten rules. Which allows teams, like Sky, to yap and complain any time they feel it benefits them. Not the way to go.

 

Great win by Thomas, very consistent, and very strong team of course. And admiration for Dumoulin, second in the Giro, second in the Tour. Without a very good team to support him ... Next year he'll focus on the Tour, which means this year he didn't. That gives you something to think about!

 

Great to watch!

I heard the Adam Yates crash was down to moisture on the road/road drying - but don't know if that was true or not.

 

Next year i'm sure both Dumoulin AND Froome will focus on the TdF and not the Italian, throw Thomas, Roglic, Niboli, Quintana, etc in the mix and it should be a great race.  

[3NUMBAS]

the french press are plotting to thwart any more sky wins in future

[pornprong]

Damn.

Hate to see the Poms win anything.

Hope they drug tested him.

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, pornprong said:

Damn.

Hate to see the Poms win anything.

Hope they drug tested him.

Best not be saying that the wrong side of the Severn Bridge .. Our Celtic cousins down there take exception to being categorized as  British .. 

Edited August 1, 2018 by Justgrazing
Sp

[Bredbury Blue]

^Mentioned I've been watching the TheMove vlog (Armstrong / Big George) on youtube. In one of the latter stages, Lance was unaware that Wales is a country...shocked me but seems that's common amongst yanks. Have to admit the 4 home countries  and the Republic of Ireland / Northern Ireland and the Republic / Britain / British Isles / Great Britain / Uk is confusing for non-Brits & Irish.