Geraint Thomas Relishing Being Back Racing After Safe Return In France

By Gareth James

Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull finished safely in the main pack as they got their 2021 race season underway in France.

The Ineos Grenadiers duo both completed the 143.55km long opening stage of the Étoile de Bessèges around Bellegarde, coming home two secs down on the winner.

Thomas was making his comeback after fracturing his pelvis on the Giro d’Italia last October then suffering a shoulder injury in a crash while on a training ride.

“With my pelvis injury then my shoulder I’ve missed a few weeks and haven’t done too many efforts,” said the 2018 Tour de France champ.

 

Everyone enjoy that?

Some good teamwork from these guys today. Staying safe and delivering @kwiato to a fifth place finish #EDB2021 pic.twitter.com/xVDDMMkUYV

— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) February 3, 2021

 

“I have just been getting the miles in and this will be a good race just to open up a bit.

“We can treat every day as a one-day race and try and be competitive every day.”

Christophe Laporte won the opening stage of five from French rival, Nacer Bouhanni with Mads Pedersen third in a sprint finish after a large crash had taken out several of the other contenders.

Thomas and Doull’s teammate, Michal Kwitkowski, was the leading Ineos Grenadiers riders in fifth spot.

Results

Étoile de Bessèges 2021 stage one, Bellegarde to Bellegarde (143.55km)

1. Christophe Laporte (FRA) Cofidis, in 3-14-32
2. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) Arkéa-Samsic, at same time
3. Mads Pedersen (DEN) Trek-Segafredo, at 2 seconds
4. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) Qhubeka-Assos at st
5. Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Ineos-Grenadiers at st

37. Doull. at st

97. Thomas at st

General Classification

1. Christophe Laporte (FRA) Cofidis, in 3-14-32
2. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) Arkéa-Samsic + 0.04
3. Mads Pedersen (DEN) Trek-Segafredo +0.08
4. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) Qhubeka-Assos + 0.12
5. Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Ineos-Grenadiers st
37. Doull at st

97. Thomas at st