Geraint Thomas made it a total of six wins from the last seven years at the Tour de France for Team Sky.
The Welshman added the Tour de France yellow jersey to his already impressive list of honours on Sunday evening in Paris, crossing the line alongside teammate and third overall in this year’s general classification Chris Froome.
Thomas defied all odds to win after dealing with three weeks of constant questions from the public and media about who was to be the leader for Team Sky at this year’s Tour de France.
The Olympic gold medallist spent 10 days in the yellow jersey after taking an emphatic win on the summit of Col de La Rosière, before winning the next day on L’Alpe d’Huez also.
“Taking it one day at a time”, was the reply from Thomas at the time to questions around his lead in the general classification.
Team Sky successfully lead 32-year-old Thomas to the Pyrenees, where he answered those questions, coming third on stage 17.
He gained just five seconds on his main rival Tom Dumoulin during that stage atop Saint-Lary-Soulan, however proving in his act of sprinting past him 500m from the finish line that he was the strongest man in the peloton.
“Everybody at British Cycling is truly thrilled with @GeraintThomas86's victory in this year’s Tour de France. His victory - is another landmark moment in British sport". - CEO Julie Harrington
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 29, 2018
See what Geraint had to say below
@itvcyclingpic.twitter.com/FUShW729s7
It was after stage 20, and the time trial finishing in the Basque Country that Thomas knew he had made history, breaking in down in tears, telling broadcasters, “it is the first time I have cried since my wedding”.
After receiving the yellow jersey on the podium, the Arc de Triomphe completing the back drop to his trophy celebration, Thomas gave his speech and gave a mic drop worthy of any rock and roll star.
Julie Harrington, CEO of British Cycling said, “Everybody at British Cycling is truly thrilled with Geraint Thomas’s victory in this year’s Tour de France. His victory means that a British rider has taken home the yellow jersey in six of the last seven years – an unparalleled period of success – and is another landmark moment in British sport.
“From his formative years at Maindy Flyers to his time spent in our academy setup, we are so proud to have played a part in his story, and we know that there will be countless boys and girls at home tonight dreaming of following in his footsteps.”
