Geraint Thomas

Geraint Thomas
	Thomas at the 2013 Tour Down Under
Personal information
Full name	Geraint Howell Thomas
Born	25 May 1986 (age 38); Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	71 kg (157 lb; 11.2 st)
Team information
Current team	You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead: Alerting users {{alert/first}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/first}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the contentious topics system if they have never received such an alert before. In this case, this template must be used for the notification.; {{alert}} ({{Contentious topics/alert}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the fact that a specific topic is a contentious topic. It may only be used if the user has previously received any contentious topic alert, and it can be replaced by a custom message that conveys the contentious topic designation.; {{alert/DS}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/DS}}) is used to inform editors that the old "discretionary sanctions" system has been replaced by the contentious topics system, and that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; {{Contentious topics/aware}} is used to register oneself as already aware that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; Editnotices {{Contentious topics/editnotice}} is used to inform editors that a page is covered by the contentious topics system using an editnotice. Use the one below if the page has restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} is used to inform editors that the page they are editing is subject to contentious topics restrictions using an editnotice. Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; Talk page notices {{Contentious topics/talk notice}} is used to provide additional communication, using a talk page messagebox (tmbox), to editors that they are editing a page that is covered by the contentious topics system. The template standardises the format and wording of such notices. Use the below if there are restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} is used to inform editors that page restrictions are active on the page using a talk page messagebox (tmbox). Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; If a user who has been alerted goes on to disruptively edit the affected topic area, they can be reported to the arbitration enforcement (AE) noticeboard, where an administrator will investigate their conduct and issue a sanction if appropriate. {{AE sanction}} is used by administrators to inform a user that they have been sanctioned.; Miscellaneous {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia.;
Discipline	Road and track
Role	Rider
Rider type	Rouleur, Pursuitist
Major wins
	National Road Race Championships (2010); Individual Pursuit National Champion (2009); Fleche du Sud (2006); Bayern-Rundfahrt (2011); Tour de Romandie, 1 stage (2012); Tour Down Under, 1 stage (2013)
Medal record
Track cycling
Representing Great Britain
Olympic Games
World Championships
Representing Wales
Commonwealth Games

Geraint Howell Thomas, MBE (born 25 May 1986) is a Welsh professional racing cyclist who rides for the UCI ProTour team You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Miscellaneous

{{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia..^[2] A track cycling world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the team pursuit, Thomas has also enjoyed success on the road, winning the Junior Paris–Roubaix in 2004, the British National Championships in 2010 and the Bayern-Rundfahrt in 2011.

Early life

Thomas, from Whitchurch, Cardiff, attended Whitchurch High School. He began cycling with the Maindy Flyers Cycling Club at Maindy Stadium at the age of 10,^[3] before going on to ride for other local clubs, Cycling Club Cardiff and Cardiff Just in Front. Following some successes in under 14 and under 16 events, including National Championships, but it was not until he won a silver medal in the points race at the European Championships that he started to realise his potential.^[4]

Career

Early years

Thomas became a member of British Cycling's Olympic Academy. He won the Carwyn James Junior Award at the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. Thomas competed at World Cup events around the world, and was training in Sydney, Australia, in February 2005 when he crashed after the rider in front of him hit a piece of metal in the road which was flicked up into Thomas' wheel. He suffered internal bleeding after the piece of metal entered his body during the fall, he ruptured his spleen which subsequently had to be removed.^[5]^[6]

He rode most of his races of 2006 for You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Miscellaneous

{{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia., but towards the end of 2006 joined You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Miscellaneous

{{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia. as a stagiaire. He also rode a few races, such as the Tour of Britain, for the Great Britain squad.

2007

Thomas was the youngest rider in the 2007 Tour de France as Team Barloworld picked up one of the three wildcard spots allocated for the race. He became the first Welsh rider to compete in the race since Colin Lewis in 1967,^[7] Thomas received great support from Welsh fans at the opening of the race, with several following the entire race.^[8] He completed his first Tour de France, finishing 140th of 141 finishers.^[9]

He was nominated for the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award in 2007, the winners were announced on 2 December, Thomas was third in the public vote.^[10]

2008

Thomas did not compete in the 2008 Tour de France, instead, he rode the 2008 Giro d'Italia earlier in the season before returning to Britain to concentrate on preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.^[11] On discovering that the flags of non-participating nations would not be allowed at the Games, Thomas said: "It would be great to do a lap of honour draped in the Welsh flag if I win a gold medal, and I'm very disappointed if this rule means that would not be possible."^[12]^[13]

On 17 August Thomas was a member of the Olympic team pursuit squad which broke the world record in the heats with a time of 3:55.202, beating their Russian opponents comfortably to go through to the final ride-off for silver and gold.^[14] The following day, on their way to winning the gold medal, the British Team pursuit broke their own world record in a time of 3:53.314, beating their Danish competitors by 6.7 seconds.^[15] Thomas had been a possible contender in the individual pursuit, but opted not to ride both events as he did not want to compromise the efforts of his team. He had also been considered to compete in the Madison with Bradley Wiggins but it was Mark Cavendish who was selected to do so; Chris Boardman stated that "Geraint keeps surpassing people's expectations".^[16]

Following the disqualification of fellow Barloworld team mate, Moises Duenas, from the Tour de France, Thomas expressed his strong anti-doping opinions on his blog on the BBC 6-0-6 website: "..if someone is fraudulent in a business, wouldn’t they be facing a prison term? I don’t see how riders taking drugs to win races and lying to their teams is any different. Bang them up and throw away the key!"^[17]

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.^[18]

2009

Thomas suffered a bad start to his 2009 season when he broke his pelvis and fractured his nose in a fall; he crashed into a safety barrier having misjudged a turn in the time trial stage of the Tirreno–Adriatico in Macerata, Italy. The crash came shortly after an 8 km time check showed he was second fastest on the road. Although he was able to return to his team hotel from hospital the same day, a period of 20 days complete rest was required before he would be able to resume training.^[19]^[20]

On 30 October 2009, Thomas set the fastest pursuit time under current rules, at the time, when he completed 4 kilometres in 4:15.105 at the first round of the 2009–2010 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics at Manchester Velodrome. Thomas' time was only surpassed by Chris Boardman, 4:11.114, set in 1996 on a bicycle position that has since been banned.^[21] On 1 November, on the last day of this World Cup round, Thomas was a member of the team pursuit squad which set the second-fastest time ever on their way to the gold medal, setting a new track record of 3 minutes 54.395 seconds in the process.^[22]

Thomas was runner-up to Ryan Giggs in the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award in 2009; the winners were announced on 8 December.^[23] He left Barloworld at the end of 2009 to join new British team, You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Miscellaneous

{{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia..^[21]

2010

Thomas began 2010 as part of the team time trial winning team for Sky at the 2010 Tour of Qatar. After competing in the classics, he impressed at the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné, finishing in the top ten in each of the opening four stages. As a result of these finishes, he was the leader in green jersey competition for stages two and four and six. He finished fifth in the green jersey competition overall, and twenty-first in the general classification.

Thomas beat team mate Peter Kennaugh to win the 2010 British National Road Race Championship. His good form continued into the 2010 Tour de France, in which he finished fifth in the Prologue and second on stage three. This led to him leading the young riders classification after stage three. Thomas finished 67th overall in the Tour, and ninth in the Young Riders Classification.

Thomas had been due to travel to Delhi, India in September to compete in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but pulled out, as did several other cyclists, due to health concerns. Dengue Fever was one specific concern cited. Illness was especially a risk for Thomas following the removal of his spleen in 2005. Following the decision, Thomas said "It's a massive disappointment, I only get to ride for Wales once every four years, but that's the decision I had to make."^[24]

2011

Thomas started the year with some promising performances, finishing sixth in the Classica Sarda and second overall in the Dwars door Vlaanderen.^[25] Thomas claimed his first professional victory in May 2011 by winning the five-day 2011 Bayern-Rundfahrt race,^[26] after finishing second on stage 3 and fifth on stage 4. On 26 June 2011, Thomas finished second to Bradley Wiggins in the British National Road Race Championships.^[27]

At the 2011 Tour de France, Thomas finished 6th on the opening stage to take the white jersey.^[28] He retained the jersey the following day, as Sky finished 3rd in the team time-trial.^[29] Thomas lost the white jersey to Robert Gesink on stage 7, as team leader Bradley Wiggins crashed out of the Tour, and the remaining Sky riders lost time after waiting for him.^[30] Thomas won the combativity award on the 212 km stage 12, following an aggressive breakaway 2 km into the first Pyrenean stage, that saw him lose contol twice on the descent of the Hourquette d’Ancizan.^[31] He finished 36th on the stage after being caught by the general classification leaders with 7 km to go on the final climb of the day, and rose to 25th overall.^[31]^[32] Thomas signed a new three year contract with Sky after stage 16.^[33] He finished 31st overall in the Tour.^[34]

Thomas had a successful 2011 Tour of Britain, winning the points classification, having been highly placed in the overall standings before a crash. He was part of the Great Britain team for the road race at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships, and helped lead out Mark Cavendish to victory.

2012

Thomas has confirmed that he will focus on track cycling for the 2012 season, with the aim of competing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[35] As such, it is unlikely that he will compete in major road races during much of 2012. Thomas will ride the 2012 Giro d'Italia before turning his focus to the track.^[36] In March, Thomas did ride 2012 Paris-Nice, where he helped Bradley Wiggins take overall victory. On 4 April, Thomas was a member of the British team pursuit team that won gold the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships with a new world record of 3:53.295 seconds. He also teamed up with Ben Swift to take the silver medal in the madison. Thomas then returned to the road, winning the prologue of the 2012 Tour de Romandie in tricky conditions.

Thomas finished second behind Taylor Phinney in the opening time trial of the Giro d'Italia. Thomas acted as lead out man to Mark Cavendish in the race, helping him to three stage victories. Thomas also finished second to Marco Pinotti in the final stage time trial in Milan.

Thomas was selected in the team pursuit team for the Olympics, along with Steven Burke, Ed Clancy and Peter Kennaugh. On 2 August the quartet set a new world record of 3:52.499 in the first heat of the event.^[37] The team set the fastest time in the first round, setting up a final with Australia to decide the gold medal winners. In the final, the British team set another world record of 3:51.659, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of the Australians, with Thomas retaining his gold medal in the event.^[38]