With one Olympic gold medal already sitting proudly at home, will Geraint Thomas get his second in London this Summer? With 100 days to go, the Games are fast approaching, not that Geraint is counting down the days!
“We never really count down days, like a year to go or a month to go. Our programme is decided and my thinking is I have a race next week and then I’m back on the track. When you think about 100 days, it’s not that long really! I’m sure it’s going to fly by now especially with being on the road and racing now for a few weeks. It is exciting, and the Games is what this year is all about for me, I’m looking forward to it.”
“When I’m together with the rest of the GB team, it’s great. We can almost see it now, its insight. Once 2012 arrived, it became a lot more real. In the past we have just been talking about the games and it always seemed so far away; but now it’s so close. We haven’t got any more racing on the track until the Games, so it’s all go and I’m sure the Games will be here before we know it.”
Team GB Team Pursuit celebrating becoming World Champions in Melbourne
The GB Team Pursuit squad claimed victory and broke the world record at the UCI World Track Championships earlier this month, beating the Australians on their own turf to claim the World title. This bodes well for Team GB in the summer, but the other countries will also be upping their game for London.
“The Aussies, the Russians and the Kiwis, they have all stepped up and racing is a lot tougher now. In Beijing, I wouldn’t say it was easy, but we had done a lot of work up to that point and we were head and shoulders above the rest. But things will be completely different this time and the results will be a lot closer. It’s all to race for.”
“At the Worlds, we had turned it around from London. We didn’t expect to go that fast, but we always knew we would close the gap between us and the Aussies; it was a lot closer than London. Yo beat them and get a world record at the same time is outstanding, especially in Melbourne as well. I don’t think they really expected that to be honest!”
“In London we will definitely take a second or two off our time. We have a lot more to come. Me personally, I still have a lot more to give that will come from spending more time on the track and doing track specific training. I have a bit of road racing now in the Giro d’Italia to develop my endurance and fitness. I think the world record will definitely go again. We will definietely go faster.”
The London 2012 motto was unveiled today by Lord Coe: ‘Inspire a generation.’ With the aim that athletic performance will inspire people in the UK and create a lasting change. But what inspires Geraint to get on his bike to train and race each day?
“I just love riding my bike. Having the target of the Olympics is all the motivation I need. Wanting to win in London, on home soil, is massive. That is what drives me every day.”
“I always follow the other Olympic athletes and especially the Welsh athletes, like Dai Greene and Tom James. I always watch the other events and it helps to relax, I can just watch the Olympics on the telly without having to constantly think about my own race and performance. After the Games, I’ll still keep a close eye on everything else that is going on.”
“The support we get from the people of Wale sand the rest of Britain is amazing. Cycling has grown massively over the last three years, and the expectation of success has also grown. But it’s great to have all that support and people are just getting behind us.”
Geraint will be racing for Team Sky in the Tour de Romandie at the end of April, and onto the Giro d’Italia in May. On his return there will be just nine weeks until the start of the Olympics.
“I have been watching the Classics, and I have missed them this year. But this year is all about the Games. The Classics are there every year, the Olympics come around every four years, but to have the Olympics in your own country is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“I did the Giro before I went to Beijing as preparation for the Games. So since we returned from Melbourne, I have been out in Italy training. Mark Cavendish is also riding so there will be a team effort needed for the sprints to get Mark across the line. But after the Giro, there will be about nine weeks until the start of the Games, so it will be all track from then!”
You can keep up to date with Geraint at his website www.geraintthomas.com for the latest videos and blog posts from races, and follow him on Twitter @geraintthomas86.
If you want the chance to ride with Geraint, then check out his special training camp he is running in October 2012 at Bluestone www.geraintthomas.com/bluestone-2012
