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Geraint Thomas satisfied to return to Tour de France podium - "We can concur against these two riders in the future"
CyclingTuesday, 26 July 2022 at 08:30
Geraint Thomas returned to the podium in Paris, something which until the month of June would seem almost unbelievable. Having led INEOS Grenadiers, the leader of INEOS Grenadiers managed to take a strong result and put the team in the spotlight throughout much of the race.
"It has been an incredibly hard Tour de France. We had very tough moments within the team, with many guys in bad shape because of sicknesses, yet we were able to turn the race around for me to step on the podium," Thomas said in a post-race interview after completing another Tour de France. "It’s special, kind of a relief, to stand up there, to experience all this, to be a part of it".
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"The atmosphere in the team has been great, and that’s key because we can’t forget this is a team sport even if it’s only me standing on the podium. We believe that we can concur against these two riders in the future," the Welshman said. After winning the Tour de Suisse, Thomas became an outside favourite for the Tour de France, and rode to the best of his abilities to finish third after an incredibly consistent race where he managed to comfortably secure his spot in the final podium against the likes of David Gaudu and Nairo Quintana.
INEOS won a stage with Tom Pidcock, who was aswell as Adam Yates in the fight for the Top10 and more throughout most of the race. Alongside Pidcock's win at Alpe d'Huez, a strong collective performance saw the 36-year old back on the podium, four years after his own Tour win.
"We have bright talents in our team, and we can be competitive in the coming editions of the Tour," he points out, looking to the future with the confidence of his recent impressive achievement. "We came here with numbers and tried all we could".
Although always a level below Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar in the mountains, the leader of INEOS Grenadiers concluded his goal. He had also good things to say about the winning team: "Wout van Aert is such an incredible rider. The whole Jumbo-Visma team has been amazing throughout the Tour de France, yet him in particular was spectacular on each and every stage. It’s a shame he races for a rival team!"
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