Geraint Thomas on David Rozman, Team Sky's link to potential doping operation: "I was surprised at how quickly it blew up"

Team Sky was the great dominator of Grand Tours throughout the 2010's and so when the news came out this year that David Rozman, an important staff member in the team, had close ties with Mark Schmidt who had been involved in Operation Aderlass - one of the most recent big doping scandals in pro cycling - then many began to speculate. Geraint Thomas criticized the fact that this became public mid-investigation, but is also not in agreement with how the team reacted to the news.

Reportedly, Rozman's contacts with Schmidt - who was given a prison sentence of four years and then months back in 2021 - had been in 2012, the year that the British team first won and dominated the Tour de France with Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome finishing first and second. He was removed from this year's Tour de France following the allegations, but has been a part of the team for over a decade at this point. But INEOS' response was short and without immediate action, only reiterating its zero-tolerance policy and confirming that he will cooperate with the investigative authorities.

"It wasn’t great, the way the team dealt with it. But it’s a tough one if you get a doctor that’s been in cycling for a while. I’m not saying they’re all dodgy, by any means, but if someone’s been in the sport 15 years, the possibility of them having some sort of link is pretty high," Thomas shared with The Guardian.

"It’s been tough, all these things happening over the years with the team. But, as a rider, all you can do is worry about yourself and the next race," he answered. However, the British team still does have questions to ask, and the results of the investigations could further boost the ongoing controversy.

"I wasn’t surprised that he knew some doctor that ended up being a bit suspect. But just because you know someone doesn’t mean you’re guilty. I was surprised at how quickly it blew up and the bad press he was getting." Thomas definitely wasn't happy with how the news spread like wildfire, specially in such a critical moment such as the Tour de France, but also believes that the team is more closely targeted then other World Tour teams that may have similar connections.

"... I think it could have been looked at without it all coming out. I think if you looked at other teams as intensely, then there will be lots of questions about them. It shows we’re held to a different standard than a lot of other teams."