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Geraint Thomas says he doesn't envy Brailsford having to make Wiggins Tour de France call

Welsh rider also says he expects to stay at Sky in 2015 despite speaking to other teams

Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas says that he does not envy Sir Dave Brailsford in having to make the decision to leave 2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins out of this year’s race.

Thomas, who recently revealed he was in talks with other teams about a potential move, has also disclosed he is likely to remain with the British WorldTour outfit.

Earlier this week, Brailsford said no final decision would be made on the final nine-man line-up for the 101st edition of the event until after the Critérium du Dauphiné, which begins tomorrow, and the Tour de Suisse, which starts next Saturday.

But yesterday Wiggins, who won the race in 2012, confirmed on BBC Breakfast that he won’t be riding the Tour de France unless defending champion Chris Froome is injured or falls ill ahead of the Grand Départ in Yorkshire four weeks today.

Thomas, who is likely to figure in the team, told Wales Online: “It’s a difficult one and I am glad I am not Sir Dave Brailsford and am just a rider.

“My main worry is getting myself in the best shape and getting on the start line.

“The selection of the balance of the team is down to other people.

“It’s a tricky one for those guys and I am glad I don’t have to make that choice.”

He continued: “It’s tough because there is a long list of 13 top Team Sky quality riders at the moment all trying to get a place in the team on the Tour de France.

“All you can doing is keep doing your job and there is no point going out there and racing for yourself.”

Last month, the double Olympic team pursuit champion, whose current contract expires at the end of this season, revealed that he was in talks with four or five other teams regarding a potential switch for 2015.

Now he expects to re-sign with Team Sky, saying: “It’s pretty close to being finalised and should be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks as we look to get it nailed down before the Tour.

“It was more about hearing out some of the other teams and seeing what they had to offer.

“It would have been a bit silly not to speak to anyone and just assume that where I was is the best place.

“But I have no reason to leave and I am happy here.”

Thomas, who last week took his second overall victory in German stage race the Bayern Rundfahrt, rode almost the whole of last year’s Tour de France with a fractured pelvis following a crash on Stage 4, and hopes to stay out of trouble this time.

“It is going to be a stressful opening few days with the pressure of starting in the UK and all the fans,” he said.

“There is going to be a lot going on but I am really looking forward to all of that.

“Hopefully we can get through unscathed without any incidents unlike last year.

“My aim is to get around incident free and do the job I know I can do.

“Last year was almost a write-off for the last couple of weeks.

“Hopefully I can be involved in the race a lot more than last year,” he added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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9 comments

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Eebijeebi | 9 years ago
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Being a suspicious type, I question why Wiggins was on tv talking about it anyway?

Imho if he's not Sky's best chance and there's a risk of him upsetting the apple cart through a personality clash then not selecting him makes sense to me.

The team is Sky not Wigigns. If it transpires that he de-selected himself then it's time for him to move on.

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adriank999 | 9 years ago
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I noticed this on another site, reference the D Day celebrations

"Sir Bradley Wiggins, the first Briton to win the Tour de France, also attended the flower market close to Notre Dame Cathedral, in the centre of the city.

He attended with a team of charity cyclists who are travelling from Brussels to London, via Paris, to raise money for Help for Heroes.

What no Froomey?"

Avatar
chiv30 | 9 years ago
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So there you go ....confirmation of what I said in the wiggo gutted thread.....nothing finalised and its wiggo basically taking himself out of the TdF not DB .....

Perhaps now all the ppl spouting its froomes fault can eat their words and realise it's their idol wiggo that's the problem and nobody else ....

Did someone mention prima donna?  45

Avatar
madonepro replied to chiv30 | 9 years ago
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chiv30 wrote:

So there you go ....confirmation of what I said in the wiggo gutted thread.....nothing finalised and its wiggo basically taking himself out of the TdF not DB .....

Perhaps now all the ppl spouting its froomes fault can eat their words and realise it's their idol wiggo that's the problem and nobody else ....

Did someone mention prima donna?  45

I began reading this post, and though 'finally, someone who got it', but then I continued and read more vitriolic diatribe from the uninformed.

Have you watched the BBC interview with Brad? If not, may I suggest you do, sometimes reading the transcript doesn't describe context, when you do watch it, you'll see that Brad appeared genuine.

These guys are professional sportsman, and I'm sure both Brad and Chris are sick of all the talk. You think two professional footballers who play premier league, and also in the national time are gonna be best mates?

If you knew Brad, you'd realise something that most of us who do, already know, he speaks his mind, he's honest, something rare, and displayed at the 2012 TDF when asked about all the doping speculation, the press room actually applauded his comments.
Froome is no different to Kevin Pieterson, he doesn't integrate, he's not loved by his adopted country, and has done nothing to change that.
A top level sportsperson doesn't have to be liked, and they all have arrogant streaks, something that you need to succeed, and after all, it's a job to these guys, and they need to earn money, cycling is a short career, and 2 years earning a couple of million, means little if you stop earning at the age 35.

Avatar
chiv30 replied to madonepro | 9 years ago
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madonepro wrote:
chiv30 wrote:

So there you go ....confirmation of what I said in the wiggo gutted thread.....nothing finalised and its wiggo basically taking himself out of the TdF not DB .....

Perhaps now all the ppl spouting its froomes fault can eat their words and realise it's their idol wiggo that's the problem and nobody else ....

Did someone mention prima donna?  45

I began reading this post, and though 'finally, someone who got it', but then I continued and read more vitriolic diatribe from the uninformed.

Have you watched the BBC interview with Brad? If not, may I suggest you do, sometimes reading the transcript doesn't describe context, when you do watch it, you'll see that Brad appeared genuine.

These guys are professional sportsman, and I'm sure both Brad and Chris are sick of all the talk. You think two professional footballers who play premier league, and also in the national time are gonna be best mates?

If you knew Brad, you'd realise something that most of us who do, already know, he speaks his mind, he's honest, something rare, and displayed at the 2012 TDF when asked about all the doping speculation, the press room actually applauded his comments.
Froome is no different to Kevin Pieterson, he doesn't integrate, he's not loved by his adopted country, and has done nothing to change that.
A top level sportsperson doesn't have to be liked, and they all have arrogant streaks, something that you need to succeed, and after all, it's a job to these guys, and they need to earn money, cycling is a short career, and 2 years earning a couple of million, means little if you stop earning at the age 35.

Yes I saw the interview , however that is irrelevant.

The simple fact of the matter is wiggo has removed himself from this yrs tdf because he doesn't want to ride for froome in a super dom role .....

DB hasn't finalised the squad it's that simple .

I'm sure within a year it will all come out the wiggo simply refused to accept the team plan and because of that made a personal choice not to ride

Avatar
chiv30 replied to madonepro | 9 years ago
0 likes
madonepro wrote:
chiv30 wrote:

So there you go ....confirmation of what I said in the wiggo gutted thread.....nothing finalised and its wiggo basically taking himself out of the TdF not DB .....

Perhaps now all the ppl spouting its froomes fault can eat their words and realise it's their idol wiggo that's the problem and nobody else ....

Did someone mention prima donna?  45

I began reading this post, and though 'finally, someone who got it', but then I continued and read more vitriolic diatribe from the uninformed.

Have you watched the BBC interview with Brad? If not, may I suggest you do, sometimes reading the transcript doesn't describe context, when you do watch it, you'll see that Brad appeared genuine.

These guys are professional sportsman, and I'm sure both Brad and Chris are sick of all the talk. You think two professional footballers who play premier league, and also in the national time are gonna be best mates?

If you knew Brad, you'd realise something that most of us who do, already know, he speaks his mind, he's honest, something rare, and displayed at the 2012 TDF when asked about all the doping speculation, the press room actually applauded his comments.
Froome is no different to Kevin Pieterson, he doesn't integrate, he's not loved by his adopted country, and has done nothing to change that.
A top level sportsperson doesn't have to be liked, and they all have arrogant streaks, something that you need to succeed, and after all, it's a job to these guys, and they need to earn money, cycling is a short career, and 2 years earning a couple of million, means little if you stop earning at the age 35.

Not to say I told you so but I'm guessing your further lack of comment on how honest
wiggo is is due to you reading that DB has publicly stated the team hasn't been picked thus giving my original post credence.......

Avatar
HarrogateSpa replied to chiv30 | 9 years ago
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I suspect Brailsford is trying to take the heat off Froome, by saying 'it's my decision' - so Froome doesn't get blamed for excluding Wiggins from the Tour.

Brailsford must know by now whether he thinks Froome and Wiggins can ride together or not. He says the decision hasn't been made, but it's probably closer to the truth to say it hasn't been announced.

Avatar
Sam1 replied to HarrogateSpa | 9 years ago
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HarrogateSpa wrote:

I suspect Brailsford is trying to take the heat off Froome, by saying 'it's my decision' - so Froome doesn't get blamed for excluding Wiggins from the Tour.

Brailsford must know by now whether he thinks Froome and Wiggins can ride together or not. He says the decision hasn't been made, but it's probably closer to the truth to say it hasn't been announced.

I've just posted on another thread so I wont repeat the whole thing here, but the decision was made a while back to leave Wiggins out, and this is just Brailsford playing for time, and trying to shield Froome from shtick.

Hell, its not as though Brailsford has a blemish-free track record when it comes to being 100% straight with his comments.

Avatar
700c replied to chiv30 | 9 years ago
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chiv30 wrote:

wiggo basically taking himself out of the TdF not DB .....
it's their idol wiggo that's the problem and nobody else ....

Did someone mention prima donna?  45

Don't think that's quite fair, is it? In the interview he's saying as it stands there's no place for him. DB now saying 'team not finalised', this doesn't necessarily contradict and I imagine Wiggins knows more than we do, esp. as its widely understood Froome has a say in selecting the team. He has repeatedly said he wants to be in the TDF starting in Yorkshire, I've no reason to disbelieve that. As others have said, he's an honest guy and speaks his mind. A PR nightmare, I'm sure, but better than releasing a book just before the tour which slags off his rival, like Froome has done.

It seems likely Froome doesn't want him undermining his chances as a leader of the team, as Froome appeared to do to Wiggins when he attacked him in 2012.

So if he's not picked, then its a decision based on egos and personality rather than form alone. A shame as Wiggins can destroy a peloton uphill, look what he did at tour of California. That would be so useful to Froome if he could get over his issues.

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