Tour de France - Geraint Thomas: It was a tough day out there
Jul 21 2019 12:51 am CET
Photo of Geraint Thomas by Team Ineos
Team Ineos' Geraint Thomas struggled to keep up with the favourites' group at the final stretch of the 14th stage at the Tour de France. The rider crossed the finish line 36 seconds behind the winner of the stage, Thibaut Pinot.
Thomas managed to remain in the favourites' group for most of the stage but at the last ramps, when the ascent of the Tourmalet became more challenging and as he had only Egan Bernal next to him, the rider had trouble keeping up with the rest. Pinot crossed the finish line in the first position and behind him riders like Julian Alaphilippe, Steven Kruijswijk, Emanuel Buchmann and Bernal.
"I just didn't feel quite on it from the start really, to be honest - just quite weak," the winner of the 2018 Tour de France explained. "At the end, I just knew I had to try to pace it. I didn't really attempt to follow when they kicked. I thought it was better just to try to ride my own pace and limit my losses that way, rather than stay with them and blow up on the steepest bit at the end. Maybe I should have tried to stay with them - it's just one of those days.
"I was hoping I'd come round a bit. On the last climb, it was just a matter of staying there for as long as possible. It was a tough day out there. There's still a lot more to come and hopefully, I'll feel better tomorrow."
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