By David Williams
Geraint Thomas will not be bidding to win the Tour de France this year after he and Chris Froome were both shock omissions from their Team Ineos squad.
Both former Tour winners were left out of the team that will contest the tour in what will feel like a hammer blow to Wales’ 2018 winner.
Neither Thomas nor Froome have shown much good form recently after cycling’s return and they have paid the price by being left out for the biggest event in the sport.
Instead, Thomas will race in the Giro d’Italia, but that will feel like a consolation prize as the Cardiff rider has been clear all year that his main target was another crack at the tour after his runners-up spot last year to teammate Egan Bernal.
Bernal will lead Team Ineos into the tour which runs from August 29 to September 20 – but there is a place for one Welshman in Luke Rowe, who has previously been a vital support rider to both Thomas and four-time champion Froome.
In a press release sent out Wednesday, Ineos announced that defending champion Bernal will lead Ineos in the Tour’s 107th edition while Froome and Thomas will set their sights on the Vuelta a España and Giro d’Italia respectively.
Both Thomas, 34, and Froome, 35, were well below par in the Criterium du Dauphine, which serves as a form indicator ahead of the Tour.
“Selecting the right leader in the right race with the right support team is critical and has meant we have had to analyse all the latest information to make sure we are in the best position possible to optimise our performances in the coming months,” said team principal Dave Brailsford.
“Egan will once again target the yellow jersey in France and we are very excited to give last year’s Giro winner, Richard Carapaz, his debut in this year’s Tour also.
“Geraint will target the Giro and take on the opportunity to double up his Tour de France win with another Grand Tour title, with the aim of being the first Welshman to win it.
“In turn, Chris Froome will target the Vuelta.”
“The decision we’ve come to, which we’re very excited about actually, is we’re going to get Egan and Richard to target yellow, to go after the yellow jersey once again.
“Then we’re going to take Geraint – Geraint’s won the Tour, finished second at the Tour, this guy needs a big chance, a big platform, so we’ve decided to give Geraint the opportunity of focusing and going for the Giro.
“A Welshman’s never won the Giro. It’s a big race. He’s won the Tour and if he could double that up with the Tour it would be terrific. Three time trials, the mountains suit him, so it’s a pretty good Grand Tour for him.
“Which leaves the Vuelta. Everyone must admire Chris’s return to racing. He’s come back with grit and determination, but I think he needs that little bit longer to get to the highest level. He’s a champion, he’s one of the legends of the sport, and he deserves the opportunity to go into a Grand Tour as a leader as well.”
Dave Brailsford is the most ruthless man in sport and I admire him for it.But then we both come from Deiniolen.