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ESPELETTE, France – More than just a support for Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas travels to Paris in yellow jersey
Thomas, a Welsh with Team Sky, sealed his first Tour de France title by protecting his Leading the time trial at the penultimate stage Saturday
Thomas enjoys a 1 minute 51 seconds advantage over Tom Dumoulin for the largely ceremonial arrival on the Champs-Elysées Sunday
. I said. "I was not thinking about the race and now I won the Tour."
Dumoulin won the 20th stage one second ahead of Froome, the four-time Tour champion who beat Primoz Roglic in third place overall.
Thomas finished third from the stage, 14 seconds behind. But it was more than enough with an advantage of over two minutes early in the day
"The strongest won this Tour de France," said Froome. "Tomorrow, getting on the podium with G, it's going to be a very proud moment for me."
Thomas, known as G, was a supportive runner during the Froome title races, but he became the undisputed leader of Sky.
Thomas and Froome have been together since their debut in the small team of Barloworld ten years ago
"Because we have been teammates and friends for so long, it has made it easier to communicate honestly" declared Froome. "It was clear as soon as we hit the Alps that Geraint was in better physical shape than I. It was quite simple, really."
Wearing a yellow skin suit on a bike in red, white colors and blue of the British flag, Thomas was the last rider to start.
In a few drops of rain, Thomas was quick to regain control when his wheel seemed to crash when arriving around a difficult and tight corner early. Yet he was first at both checkpoints before slowing down in the last few kilometers.
"I felt strong," Thomas said. "I felt really good, actually … I heard that I was standing up and maybe I was pushing a bit hard on some of those corners."
He said that Nico Portal, Sky's sports director told him to relax and make sure he won the Tour. Upon arrival, Thomas let out a loud cry and extended his arms to celebrate. He kissed his wife, Sara Elen, as soon as he got off his bike.
"The last time I cried was when I got married," says Thomas in ripping.
Thomas is about to become the third British and first Welsh to win the Tour after Bradley Wiggins and Froome. It will give Sky its sixth victory in the last seven years.
"It's really crazy – all the interest for Cardiff," Thomas said. "Great for putting it on the map." We are a small nation and we are behind everyone who succeeds. At the sound of it all, it's gone crazy at home, so I can not wait to come back to celebrate that. "
A multiple runner who started his career on the track, Thomas helped Britain to win gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before turning his full attention to the road race.
Thomas wins the yellow jersey by winning the 11th stage in the Alps, then a new victory at the summit of Alpe d'Huez the next day. Pyrenees.
"He was in the shape of his life," Dumoulin said. "He made no mistake." Dumoulin, the time trial world champion of the Netherlands, clocked a time of less than 41 minutes on 31 kilometers of hilly and technical terrain (19 miles).
It was the first time in 12 years that the Tour was passing through the Basque Country, and fans waving the red, green and white flags of the region lined the entire route in front of the traditional half-timbered houses of the region. region. [19659002CwasthesecondhighestrateofDumoulinsontheTourawhenthewatchedatimetrialin2016ItwaswatchedonthometimeswasinGreatTimes:theTourleGirod'ItalyandtheSpanishValentineversionofthisarticltappearsonpressionson on page SP 5 of the edition of New York with the title: Protecting the yellow jersey, Thomas obtains his first round of France Title . Order prints | & # 39; today | Subscribe
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