Geraint Thomas joined the elite list of cyclists in 2018 when he won the Tour de France for the first time. The Brit had watched his Ineos Grenadiers (formerly Team Sky) team-mate Chris Froome dominate the competition for three straight years, becoming the first man since Spain’s Miguel Indurain to win three successive events. However, Thomas was patient and waited for his own moment in the sun, and delivered a brilliant performance over the 21 stages of the Tour de France to claim the yellow jersey, joining his compatriots Froome and Bradley Wiggins as the only British winners of the tournament.
Thomas has come close on two occasions to adding to his titles, finishing as the runner-up in the 2019 competition and third in 2022. The 36-year-old remains one of the best cyclists on the tour and is backed in the cycling betting odds at +2500 to win the yellow jersey next year, with current champion Jonas Vingegaard the overwhelming favourite to repeat his success. Thomas though should be encouraged by his performance in 2022, proving that he still has the skill and endurance to match the top riders, although he is slightly longer in the tooth compared to his rivals.
Thomas will look back at his slow start to the 2022 Tour de France as part of the reason for his failure to compete with Vingegaard for the crown. After previously winning the Tour de Switzerland, he placed in the top 30 of the opening two races of the Tour de France, but fell off the pace in Stage Three and Four, finishing down in 51st in the latter which left Thomas with plenty of work to do to regain ground on the leaders. Stage Six was a turning point as he placed 15th before upping the ante with a fine performance at Stage Seven to move into contention in the overall classification by placing fifth.
Geraint Thomas has done it! ????????
He’s become the first ever Welshman to win the Tour de France ? https://t.co/ZtkRdPtGio pic.twitter.com/LorWVHQMFS
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 29, 2018
However, unlike his victorious run in the 2018 campaign, the Welshman was never able to get to grips with the leading pack to provide serious pressure. In 2018, he claimed victories at Stage 11 and 12, but the tough terrain and incredible heat in France put the pressure on all the riders in the competition, taking them to the brink. Thomas was still very impressive at the midway point of the tournament, but fourth and seventh-place finishes were not good enough to bridge the gap to Vingegaard, who took control of the yellow jersey and did not relinquish his hold over it as he rode his way to victory.
Tour de France podium? Completed it mate! ??@GeraintThomas86 has now stood on every step in Paris #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/ExAcPrakhh
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) July 24, 2022
Thomas found his peak form towards the end of the Tour de France almost matching his run in 2018, but three fourth-place finishes were not enough. At the age of 36, he now has to decide how long he can compete at the top with the likes of Vingegaard, who are going nowhere any time soon. Thomas has been a sensational competitor, but the next generation of British riders could be ready to take the reins in the Tour de France in the future. Thomas may still believe he has a point to prove, but he has already achieved so much in a sport and tournament that demands excellence and a clinical edge at an incredibly high level.
