Teams & Riders Geraint Thomas

[Ripper]

Unfortunately, I think he's already decided to focus on stage races from next year onwards.

Before Paris-Nice;

After Paris-Nice;

Bah! That's so disappointing (for me). I'd to see him really develop into a classics racer.

 

[Kokoso]

No, no, noooo!

Now Thomas seems to be off his stabilsers, he's developing into one of the best classics riders out there.

Him and Hushovd were pretty much the only ones doing turns with Boonen in the break. Then hauls himself back up to Cancellara and Vanmarcke when they went. Fantastic ride

Once he gets a little bit more tactical nous, he'll be one of the best.

It's hard to see him being anything other a very good GT rider/super dom. And Kennaugh's arguably ahead of him anyway?

Probably, but at PV Kennaugh was pretty disappointing. So - who knows.

 

[Ruudz0r]

I really didnt understand what SKY was doing. Thomas was already riding at the front of the bunch with about 90-100K to go while Rowe, Eisel and Rasch were still there.
Thomas was waiting for Wiggins a little later after he punctured and brought him back. (he didnt have to wait a little later when Wiggins was behind again a little later).
They knew Thomas was good after his performances in E3 and RVV (even after a big crash int he start without he could have done better).

But well I got that more often with SKY.


But ye from now on G will mainly focus on GC riding, he can still lose some weight and I think he can be really good at it. I think he is ahead of Kennaugh as well and I can still see him make good progress.

 

[Wallenquist]

I really didnt understand what SKY was doing. Thomas was already riding at the front of the bunch with about 90-100K to go while Rowe, Eisel and Rasch were still there.
Thomas was waiting for Wiggins a little later after he punctured and brought him back. (he didnt have to wait a little later when Wiggins was behind again a little later).
They knew Thomas was good after his performances in E3 and RVV (even after a big crash int he start without he could have done better).

But well I got that more often with SKY.


But ye from now on G will mainly focus on GC riding, he can still lose some weight and I think he can be really good at it. I think he is ahead of Kennaugh as well and I can still see him make good progress.

I guess it's quite difficult to become a leader after being a domestique for many years both in phisical and mental way. Together with Stannard Thomas is best Sky rider for cobbles but it looks like it way his last spring campaign. G will chose similar path that Kwiatkowski followed already and focus on GC (maybe Ardennes also ? for sure he has potential for LBL)

 

[gooner]

But Thomas, whose contract with the outfit expires in December, admits his own dreams of winning the general classification will have to remain just that for now, regardless of who he rides for.

“I think it might be too early to be challenging for a GC jersey next year,” said the 27-year-old, who has won two Olympic gold medals on the track.

“It may not happen at all, I may just play a supporting role and be able to do well in one-week races.

“I haven’t even trained specifically to win a stage. Climbing, even time trials, I’ve never done much work on, I’ve never had to since switching from the track. I know the areas that need improving.

“I’ve seen how Bradley Wiggins has developed along the same path. I’m not saying I can dominate like him or win the Tour, but I want to give myself the chance.

“I’m just listening to what everyone has to say, including Sky. It doesn’t mean I’m going to leave, but it would be wrong not to listen to what options are around, as you would in any job.

“It’s about looking at the other riders in the team, the atmosphere, the way they think and prepare.”

http://www.cityam.com/article/14007...eam-riding-tour-victory-will-never-come-true?

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Thomas looked pretty good on the cobbles. Think he could have stayed with the Sagan group if he did not fall back to help Porte (Assuming that is what he did).
Pretty sure he is a better bike handler then his crashes suggest. Though maybe that hints that his positioning is not always the best.

A shame he re-signed for Sky since I feel he would get more opportunities to ride for himself at some of the other teams.

 

[Hawkwood]

Thomas looked pretty good on the cobbles. Think he could have stayed with the Sagan group if he did not fall back to help Porte (Assuming that is what he did).
Pretty sure he is a better bike handler then his crashes suggest. Though maybe that hints that his positioning is not always the best.

A shame he re-signed for Sky since I feel he would get more opportunities to ride for himself at some of the other teams.

He looked really upbeat in the ITV4 interview yesterday. He said something like `I told Porte to stay on my wheel, then we hammered it'.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Thomas looked pretty good on the cobbles. Think he could have stayed with the Sagan group if he did not fall back to help Porte (Assuming that is what he did).
Pretty sure he is a better bike handler then his crashes suggest. Though maybe that hints that his positioning is not always the best.

A shame he re-signed for Sky since I feel he would get more opportunities to ride for himself at some of the other teams.

Thomas was in the front group after sector 2, but Porte crashed just after sector 2, you could see Thomas talking to his race radio and then he dropped back.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Thomas was in the front group after sector 2, but Porte crashed just after sector 2, you could see Thomas talking to his race radio and then he dropped back.

It was a shame Porte crashed when he did, with a fired up Thomas on terrain he likes there would have been no reason why they couldn't have at least stayed with the Sagan group, that's bike racing though.

 

[King Boonen]

G looks like he knows how to handle a bike, I hope the crashes stop because he does look like he could challenge in some of the classics and for a UK rider it seems like he isn't a massive ***.

 

[Cookster15]

G looks like he knows how to handle a bike, I hope the crashes stop because he does look like he could challenge in some of the classics and for a UK rider it seems like he isn't a massive ***.

Geraint has certainly improved his bike handling since 2011. And yes he's a refreshing change from Wiggo's attitude if that is what you are alluding to - actually likeable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFWt_MKViKs&feature=kp

 

[King Boonen]

Geraint has certainly improved his bike handling since 2011. And yes he's a refreshing change from Wiggo's attitude if that is what you are alluding to - actually likeable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFWt_MKViKs&feature=kp

Wiggo, Froome, the smugness of some of the male track sprinters...

G seems to enjoy riding his bike, is good at it and doesn't have the usual focus of being desperate to only win races the British public care about. The guy seems happy just to be out there racing and it's a very refreshing attitude from a UK rider.

Of course, he has a stack of gold medals which is always going to make it easier

 

[Hawkwood]

Geraint has certainly improved his bike handling since 2011. And yes he's a refreshing change from Wiggo's attitude if that is what you are alluding to - actually likeable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFWt_MKViKs&feature=kp

Did he jam the rear brake on? Should have followed the example of Sean Yates, have your rear brake set up so the brake blocks don't engage with the rim no matter how much you pull the lever!

 

[King Boonen]

Did he jam the rear brake on? Should have followed the example of Sean Yates, have your rear brake set up so the brake blocks don't engage with the rim no matter how much you pull the lever!

Hard to tell, could have been the road but it does look like he locked up the rear brakes, high-sided and straightened up. Probably a little too overzealous or maybe a bit of arm-pump meant he couldn't modulate as well as usual.

 

[Cookster15]

Wiggo, Froome, the smugness of some of the male track sprinters...

G seems to enjoy riding his bike, is good at it and doesn't have the usual focus of being desperate to only win races the British public care about. The guy seems happy just to be out there racing and it's a very refreshing attitude from a UK rider.

Of course, he has a stack of gold medals which is always going to make it easier

Totally agree. Plus I just need to add that picture of Geraint and Richie in the mud yesterday will be pulled out for years to come. Simply epic. These are the kind of scenes that make professional road racing what it is. Other examples are Evans and Vino in Strade Bianche stage of 2010 Giro and Andy Hampsten in the snow storm in '88 Giro.

 

[Cookster15]

Did he jam the rear brake on? Should have followed the example of Sean Yates, have your rear brake set up so the brake blocks don't engage with the rim no matter how much you pull the lever!

Several riders had problems on the same corners that stage - Thomas was not alone but yes maybe a brake set up not suited to the conditions. I think the corners were damper than expected, it was foggy and some corners had tightening radius so late braking caused some issues. Anyhow he's had no such problems on the cobbles.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Totally agree. Plus I just need to add that picture of Geraint and Richie in the mud yesterday will be pulled out for years to come. Simply epic. These are the kind of scenes that make professional road racing what it is. Other examples are Evans and Vino in Strade Bianche stage of 2010 Giro and Andy Hampsten in the snow storm in '88 Giro.

Thomas the Tank Engine.

 

[King Boonen]

Totally agree. Plus I just need to add that picture of Geraint and Richie in the mud yesterday will be pulled out for years to come. Simply epic. These are the kind of scenes that make professional road racing what it is. Other examples are Evans and Vino in Strade Bianche stage of 2010 Giro and Andy Hampsten in the snow storm in '88 Giro.

Yep, bike racing is not just about the winners, it's something that's very attractive about the sport and images like that live on.

I hope he leaves Sky but I don't think it'll happen until Sky decide it's time for him to move on.

 

[Hawkwood]

Thomas the Tank Engine.

What a cracking image, Porte must have felt like he was behind a motorbike.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Several riders had problems on the same corners that stage - Thomas was not alone but yes maybe a brake set up not suited to the conditions. I think the corners were damper than expected, it was foggy and some corners had tightening radius so late braking caused some issues. Anyhow he's had no such problems on the cobbles.

Iirc in an interview he said that the second crash was because the wheels were still slippery from the dew off the grass in the first crash.

Does the amount of track work these guys do mean that their (outdoor) bike skills are not quite as good as the betters riders? In, say, the team pursuit you have to be pretty precise in your handling. However, it is just one skill that is repeated to perfection. On the road it may not be as second nature as it is to some of the better bike handlers.

Someone like Sagan of course is just freakily good and I doubt you can ever teach that.

 

[King Boonen]

Iirc in an interview he said that the second crash was because the wheels were still slippery from the dew off the grass in the first crash.

Does the amount of track work these guys do mean that their (outdoor) bike skills are not quite as good as the betters riders? In, say, the team pursuit you have to be pretty precise in your handling. However, it is just one skill that is repeated to perfection. On the road it may not be as second nature as it is to some of the better bike handlers.

Someone like Sagan of course is just freakily good and I doubt you can ever teach that.

I would have thought track riding actually leads to better skills. They will all have grown up riding at high speed, occasionally behind durneys, in large packs before moving to specialised events like TP. Add to that the fact there is little room for error on the track, the fixed gear limits what evasive maneuvers are available and I think track riders probably end up being very good bike handlers, obviously with exceptions. Cav has always be lauded for his ability to find gaps and wheels and he has said it is because of his track days.

Sagan is a mountain biker. We're obviously much better than you road guys

 

[Hawkwood]

Iirc in an interview he said that the second crash was because the wheels were still slippery from the dew off the grass in the first crash.

Does the amount of track work these guys do mean that their (outdoor) bike skills are not quite as good as the betters riders? In, say, the team pursuit you have to be pretty precise in your handling. However, it is just one skill that is repeated to perfection. On the road it may not be as second nature as it is to some of the better bike handlers.

Someone like Sagan of course is just freakily good and I doubt you can ever teach that.

I suppose it depends on the disciplines track riders follow, I think you'd need extreme bike handling skills for events such as the madison and derny pace. Also track riders will probably do lots of miles on the road. Wiggins certainly used to do huge miles on the road, even when he was focused on the track, and these were in one of the wettest parts of the UK, so you'd think he'd be able to handle wet roads.

 

[willbick]

I suppose it depends on the disciplines track riders follow, I think you'd need extreme bike handling skills for events such as the madison and derny pace. Also track riders will probably do lots of miles on the road. Wiggins certainly used to do huge miles on the road, even when he was focused on the track, and these were in one of the wettest parts of the UK, so you'd think he'd be able to handle wet roads.

Wiggins' main problem at the Giro wasnt so much the conditions but the fact his heart wasnt in it. If he really wanted to win the race he'd have got back on his bike straight away and got on with it

 

[Hawkwood]

Wiggins' main problem at the Giro wasnt so much the conditions but the fact his heart wasnt in it. If he really wanted to win the race he'd have got back on his bike straight away and got on with it

I agree, I think his mind is a bit fragile at times. I also think that you need to be able to disengage your brain on tricky descents.

 

[Hawkwood]

I would have thought track riding actually leads to better skills. They will all have grown up riding at high speed, occasionally behind durneys, in large packs before moving to specialised events like TP. Add to that the fact there is little room for error on the track, the fixed gear limits what evasive maneuvers are available and I think track riders probably end up being very good bike handlers, obviously with exceptions. Cav has always be lauded for his ability to find gaps and wheels and he has said it is because of his track days.

Sagan is a mountain biker. We're obviously much better than you road guys

There's a great clip of Cav winning a derny event at a Six Day, I think the Ghent one. It's impressive just how fast the guys were going on quite a small track. I've read that as one paced rider passes over another there's a danger of the draft from the derny pushing them off their own pacer.