British Cycling News: Geraint Thomas decides to sit out 2010 UCI Cycling World Championships
The promising 24-year old cyclist Geraint Thomas is not going to represent Great Britain in the 2010 UCI Cycling World Championships to be held in Melbourne starting October 3rd 2010. Thomas cites not being able to give a 100% as his main reason for stepping down. Thomas finished 15 for stage seven at this year’s Eneco Tour of Benelux (which is a road bicycle racing stage-race). For a world class race, 15 is not a bad finish but Thomas believes he was struggling to get back into form during this race.
Thomas began this year literally racing against the clock as a member of teak SKY’s Team Time Trial race at the 2010 Tour of Qatar. Next Thomas took on the “classics” which are one-day professional road cycling races. Though Thomas’ performance in these races was not outstanding, he proved his mettle in the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné. Previously known as the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, this annual cycling road race has over eight stages. It is also one of the more important races in the lead up to the Tour de France. Thomas finished 3rd in stage 1 and was in the top 10 for stages 2 and 3. Thomas was awarded the green jersey which clearly marked him as one of the best sprinters in this race.
Thomas’ pot of gold followed him to the 2010 British National Road Race Championship, where he finished first and afforded his team, Sky Pro Cycling, a clear win as well. Thomas was well aware of his strengths during this race. When he heard that he could race it out with his teammates during the last lap, he held on until the sprint since that was his forte. After that, it was clear blue skies and a gold medal for Thomas.
The 2010 Tour de France saw another outstanding performance by the Welsh cyclist, as he finished second in stage three of the race. Team Sky Principal Dave Brailsford said in a BBC Radio Wales’ program that Thomas would not be able to hold his pace during the tour. Though Brailsford’s words rung true, Thomas proved he was a team player during this race.
Brailsford went on to say that Thomas is a “very, very talented athlete” and that his strengths lie in sprints and undulating low hills. Thomas’ stellar performance ushered in his being selected as part of the Great Britain team for the World Championships. Thomas was set to compete in the renowned races along with teammates Mark Cavendish, a double Madison World Champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and Jeremy Hunt, a former British National Road Race Champion. Both Cavendish and Hunt are senior to Thomas in terms of their cycling career. Thomas may have a lot to learn from both these phenomenal cyclists.
Unfortunately, Thomas has decided that now is not the time for all that learning. The sprinter admitted that he had not been “feeling too good since the Tour” (de France) and stepped down as a member of the Great Britain Team. Thomas’ best wishes lie with the team as he expresses that though having two teammates limits Cavendish’s chances at a win, he is confident that Cavendish can “look after himself”.
"I decided to just pull out because I don't think I'll be 100 percent there so I thought it would be better to step aside and let one of the other guys ride who are going to be more motivated and going a bit better,” he added.
At the end of the day, whether this is Geraint taking one for the team or one for self-esteem is yet to be seen.
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