Thomas third at Tour de France

24 Jul 2022

Thomas third at Tour de France

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Tour de France - Stage 21 » Paris La Défense › Paris (Champs-Élysées), 115.6km

Geraint Thomas secured a fantastic third place overall at the Tour de France as a memorable race came to a close in Paris.
 
The Welshman couldn’t resist a final-lap acceleration on the famous Champs-Elysees but was able to cross the line safely to make sure of a third podium finish in the fastest ever edition of the French Grand Tour.
 
After winning the race in 2018 and finishing runner-up to Egan Bernal in 2019, this year Thomas completed all three steps of the overall podium after using all his experience across the three weeks.
 
The Grenadiers also clinched victory in the team’s general classification by a commanding margin of 37 minutes and 33 seconds. After leading the competition since the cobbles of stage five, it represented the second time the team have donned the yellow helmets in Paris, after last tasting success in 2017.
 
Adam Yates battled through illness to secure an admirable and impressive 10th place overall. Tom Pidcock took a highlight victory atop Alpe d’Huez and finished 17th on his debut Tour de France.
 
Jonathan Castroviejo, Filippo Ganna, Dani Martinez, Luke Rowe and Dylan van Baarle all played key roles across the three weeks and ensured the whole team finished the race together in Paris.
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Reaction

- Geraint Thomas

"It was a tough end to last year, so to come back from that and prove a few doubters wrong has been really enjoyable. I’ve really enjoyed racing this year, the team’s been great and the Tour has been a real good bunch of guys. We all get on really well and the atmosphere on the bus is good. It’s a good vibe.
 
"I’ve done some of my best numbers. But at the same time some of my best previous were in 2018, and it felt on those climbs I still had more, so it’s hard to just go off that. I’m certainly in top shape and happy to have got here. 
 
"I’m still making the most of it. As I’ve said many times now, I can see I’m much closer to the end of my career than the start. I’m making the most of it, soaking it all in and trying to enjoy days like this as they don’t come round too often."
- Luke Rowe

"We've gone into every stage with the ambition of giving G and the GC guys the best run in the stage and also tried to animate each day and try to win a stage if possible  It's been an exciting style of racing and great fun off the bike. 

"Steve Cummings is one of the DSs who reminds me a lot of Nico Portal - things could be going not quite to plan and Nico would not be stressed. Steve is very similar in that sense and he's been a breath of fresh air, incredible actually. 

"The tribute to Nico was special, we stayed the night in Pau and his kids stayed at the hotel and we got to see them and there was the massive poster of Nico on the stage. He was a massive character, on and off the bike, here in Paris he would bring his kids and they would be the stars of the show. When I was rolling down here he was the person I was thinking of. A special guy - gone but not forgotten."