“I think I've never really been in decent shape at Worlds" - Geraint Thomas looking to cap career with first Rainbow Jersey

For just the second time in his career, Geraint Thomas will take part in the individual time-trial at the World Championships. After finishing 4th back in 2020, Thomas is hoping to cap his career with a Rainbow Jersey.

“I think I've never really been in decent shape at Worlds, maybe once in Imola and when Cav won in Copenhagen. It's nice to be at Worlds in decent nick,” Thomas said earlier this week, previewing the time-trial. Now, aged 37 this also marks one of the Brit's final chances. “Because you know that it’s coming to an end soon. You make the most of it, try to take it in and being in the UK makes it more special.”

Heading to the Vuelta a Espana following the World Championships, Thomas believes he could actually benefit from the busy calendar despite the negatives. “I wouldn't say it's in the way but it's not necessarily ideal. With Poland finishing last week, doing this and going to altitude for another eight days then straight to the Vuelta, it's a lot of time away from home," he explains to Cycling News. “So you've no regrets, you know you've done all you can and you just do what you can do.”

“For me at the end of the day, you aim to be as quick as you can. It's a pure race, it's just as good as you are and that's that,” he concludes. “It obviously helps for the Vuelta, but the main reason coming here is to try and perform in the Worlds and perform in the TT. I would have loved to do the road race as well but the way Poland fell it wasn't possible.”