Thomas Back On His Bike In Italy After Paris-Nice Glory

Geraint Thomas will be back on his bike on Sunday for Team Sky’s crack at the prestigious Milan-San Remo race on Saturday.

Thomas will be joined by fellow Welsh rider Luke Rowe in the squad just days after pulling off the biggest win of his road race career.

The double Olympic champion saw off a last day fight-back by Spain’s Alberto Contador to win Paris-Nice last Sunday.

Thomas will then head to Spain where he will link up with Chris Froome to compete in the seven-day Volta a Catalunya.

The 29-year-old is set to act as a support rider for Froome when he bids to win a third Tour de France title in July.

But Thomas’ emergence as a future Grand Tour contender with his victory in Paris-Nice will see him given greater protection on Le Tour – in effect he will be Sky’s Plan B.

Thomas’ contract at Sky run out at the end of this season amid growing speculation he will be targeted by several teams to act as their team leader on the major Tours.

The Monaco-based rider has snubbed offers in the past to stay with Sky, but could have a choice to make this summer.

And Rowe is relishing competing in Milan-San Remo having played a big part in helping his fellow Cardiff-born rider Thomas in Paris-Nice.

Rowe said: “I’m happy with where I am and am looking forward to going into the Classics now with good form and plenty of morale.

“We knew Geraint was in great shape and super motivated to try do the best GC possible.

“We knew it was a huge ask to try and win, but we believed in him.

“When G took the jersey on stage 6 the whole team was over the moon. He got attacked by the best in the world and held his own.
“Going into the last day we had the jersey to defend on a tough day but the team were super strong and all week we were all over it.

“It’s safe to say that race was down to the wire but Chapeau he did it.

“We celebrated with a big team meal in Monaco last night with a nice pizza and a few beers.

Team Sky for Milan-San Remo (Saturday, March 19)
Peter Kennaugh, Michal Kwiatkowski, Salvatore Puccio, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas, Elia Viviani

Team Sky for Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27)
Ian Boswell, Chris Froome, Vasil Kiryienka, Mikel Nieve, Wout Poels, Nicolas Roche, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas