Geraint Thomas has expressed his enthusiasm after the current announcement that Scotland will host the Grand Départ for the primary time in biking historical past whereas each males’s and girls’s Excursions de France are set to start out within the UK in 2027.
The Welshman has launched into his last racing season earlier than he’s set to retire on the finish of 2025 however fondly recalled competing on the Tour de France’s begins in London in 2007 and once more in Yorkshire in 2014.
The 2018 Tour de France champion mentioned he hopes the UK begin in 2027 will get extra youth within the sport of biking.
“It’s tremendous thrilling and particular to have the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2027 within the UK,” Thomas mentioned in a press launch issued by way of his crew Ineos Granadiers on Sunday.
“I used to be fortunate sufficient to be a part of two British Grand Départs already, one in London and one up in Yorkshire. There’s a stage in Wales and that’s nice too. I hope it’ll encourage the subsequent era of youngsters and for lots of people to get out and benefit from the Tour.”
Beginning within the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, the lads’s race will function phases in Scotland, England and Wales, although actual particulars aren’t anticipated to be unveiled within the autumn. The ladies’s race may also begin within the UK, however the host metropolis for that Grand Départ is just not but identified and will probably be among the many particulars revealed later within the 12 months.
Nearing the top of a storied and profitable 19-year profession, Thomas is at present on a whirlwind last season the place he has already competed on the Tour Down Beneath Volta ao Algarve and was a last-minute addition to the crew’s roster for Milan-San Remo this weekend.
After solely a day’s restoration, he’s now set to line up with Ineos Grenadiers on the Volta a Catalunya that begins on Monday. He joins a roster that features 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, Laurens De Plus, Axel Laurance, Michael Leonard, Lucas Hamilton and Omar Fraile. Though Thomas has by no means gained the Volta a Catalunya, he completed on the rostrum in 2021.
“I’m wanting ahead to the Volta a Catalunya and to have some enjoyable with the boys. We’re going to try to be within the combine within the sprints with Axel [Laurance], and we’ve Egan [Bernal] and Laurens de Plus for the climbs,” Thomas mentioned.
“I really feel a bit drained after San Remo. It took me some time to get to sleep final evening, with the caffeine and the adrenaline of racing. I’m joyful to be right here. I’ve finished this race a number of instances now and simply hope we’ve good climate.”
His participation on the Italian Monument was his first since 2016, and he’ll undoubtedly purpose to compete one final time within the larger stage races, along with his summer time program, together with one final go to to the Tour de France, nonetheless not absolutely determined.
“Realizing that is my final season simply makes every thing particular and simpler to do. On Saturday, beneath the rain in San Remo, I used to be pondering it was going to be one of many final instances I’m going to be chilly and moist within the rain throughout a race,” he mentioned after ending the enduring 289km Monument, a lot of it beneath the chilly and moist situation.
“I’m simply having fun with it as a result of we’ve a particular life as professional athletes and professional cyclists, so I wish to get pleasure from the previous couple of months. Afterwards, issues will get a bit extra actual in the true world.”
