Pre-Worlds Interview: Geraint Thomas
March 24, 2007
by Larry Hickmott (larryhickmott@britishcycling.org.uk)
T
he Cardiff rider who races for pro team Barloworld, already has a World Championship Silver medal in his collection from 2006 and had a scare during the training camp when he crashed during an effort. Talking about the final efforts in training, he says “I didn’t feel to bad today and am starting to come around after I crashed last week. I’ve had a good rest.”
The former Olympic Academy rider knows it will not be easy this year to get that much sought after place in the foursome for the Team Pursuit saying “everyone is going so well, its hard to judge how well you’re going yourself. We’re doing 4.01 pace and it feels really easy which gives an indication of where we’re all at these days.”
“Last year (2006 Worlds Selection) was an opportunity for me to come into the team and see what I can do but now everyone has an equal opportunity to get in it and there is just so much competition. Any one of the six of us could rock up and be in a team capable of winning the Worlds.”
Talking about the weeks leading up to the World Championships, he explained “before the Manchester World Track Cup, I had about a week and half of track work and then after it, went back out on the road. After that, I’ve had a good two weeks of track work here and my cadence is back now and I’m cruising at 130 revs.”
And when asked about the session on the Thursday before they leave, he says “in these pressure sessions, the turns at the front certainly do seem to come round a lot quicker!” There is a good atmosphere in the team though and everyone is supporting each other. There is no rivalry in the team. We come in here and have a laugh and moral is really good.”
Geraint, despite being a talented bunch race rider, he was World Junior Scratch race champion, is only being entered for the Team Pursuit, and is aware like Ed Clancy in 2005, he could return with nothing if not in the final line-up for the Team Pursuit. He is certainly modest about his ability when he says “I don’t think I am as talented as Rob yet who can rock up and win a Gold at an event so its better at the moment to concentrate on one event.”
Which is what he is doing for 2007, and the former Cardiff JIF rider is focused solely on making that final Team Pursuit line-up and for that, we wish him luck.
