"In Wales it's heavy roads, small lanes and the climbs are just different" - Geraint Thomas anticipates Tour de France's first-ever passage through Wales

The 2027 Tour de France will be starting in Great Britain and this Thursday afternoon the first three stages have been revealed, showcasing racing through Scotland, England and Wales. Stage 3 will fully take place in Welsh territory and feature several climbs. Geraint Thomas, the country's top figure in the sport, loudly applauds the decision.

"The Tour is the reason I got into cycling so it will be a very special day – but it's the legacy that will be key," Thomas said in an interview with BBC. "Millions upon millions of people around the world will never have seen parts of Wales that we'll be showing them".

Thomas is going to be a prime figure when the Tour begins in Great Britain, having been its last winner back in 2018. The former INEOS Grenadiers rider retired this winter but has switched into a role of Head of Racing with the British team, and continues to be a key figure within the team, only in a different role now.

However next year, he will be preparing his team for racing in his home country, something which will happen for the first time in Wales' history. "This isn't just a milestone for cycling in Wales, but it's a celebration and an opportunity for us to show off our nation."

Stage 1 will take place from Edinburgh to Carlisle; and stage 2 will start in Keswick, finishing in Liverpool. The third day of racing will be the first that won't be suited to the sprinters, but instead take place in the short and sharp climbs of Wales, with the 223-kilometer long stage taking place from Welshpool to Cardiff.

"Riders will know they're not in France. The roads and the landscape are completely different to what you get in France and that makes the race more unpredictable. In Wales it's heavy roads, small lanes and the climbs are just different," he explains. "It doesn't come easy, you're always working hard – and that's not just me after doing nothing for the past four months".

This third stage will be incredibly tense, as the first GC challenge, with teams fresh and ready and wanting to maintain their aspirations. Fighting for positioning will be very intense, and we could see attacks on Caerphilly mountain too, which is 2 kilometers long at 8% and close to the finish.

"Hopefully the weather will be nice, but that brings another dynamic. The route itself has a [Milano] Sanremo feel because it starts flat but then it's a long stage with the climbs coming towards the end with the Rhigos and Caerphilly," he describes.

It's a formula that has worked at the Tour of Britain, and was how it ended this year, in Thomas' backyard. But the fans will now be able to see these roads on the biggest race in the world.

"We've seen in the Tour of Britain it can be tough for some but there's enough time to come back. So will the sprinters come back in time? Will it be a bunch finish? Will it be a breakaway? There are a lot of scenarios so it's going to be super exciting to watch."