EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW | Geraint Thomas at the start of the Figueira Classic: "It's just a tough race, let's see what happens"
Cycling
The Figueira Champions Classic is about to begin and we're expecting a peloton full of the biggest stars in Portuguese cycling, and also some of the best riders from around the globe.
One of those cyclists is former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas of INEOS Grenadiers, who will be making his European debut in 2025 after having already taken part in several races in Australia during January, including the Tour Down Under.
Speaking briefly to CyclingUpToDate and Ciclismo Atual, the Brit told us about what he thinks of the race: "It's just a tough race, let's see what happens," Thomas told us, who was clearly in a good mood, as is typical of him. We also told him that a lot of people like racing with him and he jokingly replied, "I don't know who could have said that!"
But the Figueira Champions Classic won't be the only race Thomas will ride in Portugal, in a few days he'll also return to the Volta ao Algarve, a race he won in 2015 and 2016. However, Thomas, who is retiring from cycling at the end of 2025, doesn't expect to win the race for a third time this year: "I'm going to do my race and do my best for the team."
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- If he's very lucky maybe he can podium a Tour one season, I certainly don't believe he can win it, evervappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Yeah, as if fans would now have acquired a right to an MVPD every generation ;-)Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- Yeah not this year anyway but worth keeping an eye on him (and some others) in future.Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- poor kid, saddled with all that “next mvdp” crap. eeesh…OCexile03-04-2025
- I don't think so, maybe in a different GT, not in the Tour. Last year, to be 3rd, he would have to be better than Remco. And he wasn't, on any terrainvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Or sprinting, or against wind. I think by now they’ve optimised the tire tech and pressures to largely smooth out rider weight effects. BUT, I’m going to go through past podiums to see what weight distribution trends are to be spotted coz I’m curious now.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- I also wasn’t too impressed by the final lead out, they’ve got to practice that, Wout had far too long to ride alone but then again it seemed as if the lead-outs had themselves run out of steam too early which is what makes me believe none of them could have won, Powfull looked totally fresh and in the end it was just a case of him being stronger than the others, not much you can do against that, just like you can’t outdo MVDP in the end when he’s in shape.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Exactly, a rider (or sprinter in athletics) can’t even tell themselves when it will happen until it does. Obviously if you have an idea that could happen, you should maybe envisage testing your theory with perhaps an small sharp attack well before race-end.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Yes but 20 minutes as a domestique isn’t 20 minutes as a leader, and you know as well as anybody that Pog winning is in no way a guarantee. Granted, neither Pog nor Remco nor Jinas nor Primoz or some more winning starts to seem far-fetched but a podium would certainly be targetable if he doesn’t have to worry about Jonas.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- The final appeal he lost against his old team for « breaking » his contract.Mistermaumau03-04-2025