Geraint Thomas interview

Geraint Thomas is on form for the Tour

The Tour de France, the biggest and most prestigious race on the cycling calendar, is coming to London this July and all eyes will be on any British riders taking part. Welsh born Geraint Thomas, a successful product of the British Cycling Talent Team, is having a taste of the surreal as he receives confirmation that, in front of home crowds, he will make his Tour de France debut. But be under no illusion, this young rider has hasn't risen to glory over night. His dreaming of this day started at the age of 11.

"Ever since I started cycling at the age of 11 I have watched the tour on television and dreamed of riding it. It's hard to believe that I have this opportunity to full fill my dream so early in my career. I turned pro this year and was only 21 last week.” And looking towards the future, where does he place himself in five years? “I would like to be riding the tour and aiming to take the yellow jersey in the prologue”.

With the announcement of Thomas' inclusion in the Tour, we're now facing the prospect of the highest number of British riders to ever take part in the race. And Geraint certainly has proved he is of the right pedigree. Raised through the ever-successful Olympic Academy Programme, it's a step in his young career that has clearly worked wonders for him. The Welsh born rider has stacked up an impressive cabinet of medals for somebody so young. Much of this early success has been found on the track, where he's honed his riding skills. In 2004 he placed 2nd in the scratch race during the Moscow World Cup. In 2005 he placed 1st at the British Championships in the scratch race. But despite all this track success, he displays great talent on the road, most notably when he won the junior version of the Paris-Roubaix in 2004.

The Tour however is a race unlike any he's experienced before, and at 21 he'll be one of the youngest riders taking part. Understandably the pressure resting on his young shoulders will be immense, but Thomas seems unfazed. “I can't even imagine how big the tour starting in London is going to be, but I don't feel too much pressure at the moment.” And with the start of the Tour less than a month away, preparation in the weeks leading up to the race are vital for the young rider, “I have a good programme of races with Team Barloworld leading up to the tour. I have 3 one days races this weekend and then have a good gap to train on my TT bike in preparation for the prologue. I then have a stage race in Holland which finishes 2 weeks before the tour. And what are his plans in the final two weeks before the Tour? “It will then be feet up and 'sit on' the form I have, making sure that I arrive at the tour fresh and ready to go.”

Asking him what his personal expectations from the race, you might expect he'd just be happy to hang on and survive. He has, however, other ideas, “I will be hoping to make an impact in the first week of the tour, as the terrain suits me a lot better. We have a good leader in Robert Hunter who I will be helping out in the finishes. I'd prefer to race the first week hard and to risk not finishing, rather than to do the bare minimum and 'pack' the tour a few days later. After the first week I will switch to 'survival mode' and take it day by day.”

And while it's good news for British cycling as a whole, which is already receiving much accolades with recent track success, it's highlighting some of the talent to come out of Wales, firmly planting the nation on the cycling map. With Thomas and the incredibly successful Nicole Cooke flying the Welsh flag, the future looks bright. “It's a great honour to represent Wales in one of the biggest sporting events in the world”.

Finally, who will he be putting his money on to win the Tour?” Vino (Alexander-Vinokourov.). He won the Veulta last year and really wants the tour. He also has a really strong team to back him up, so I think hes the man to beat.”

Geraint will line up with his eight Team Barloworld team mates (which haven't all been decided yet) on 7 July.