Thomas Savours Yellow Fever After Cementing Place In History Books

Geraint Thomas admitted he was inspired by The British Lions as he became the first Welsh rider to wear the Tour de France Yellow Jersey.

The Cardiff born ace is only the eighth Brit to lead the world’s most famous race after triumphing in the stage one time trial in Dusseldorf.

Thomas- who used to go to Whitchurch High School with Lions skipper Sam Warburton – watched the victory over New Zealand.

And a few hours later Thomas went on to grab the famous maillot jaune just weeks after the agony of crashing out of the Guro d’Italia.

The 31-year-old said: “Massive congrats to Sam and the boys. They did an awesome job and certainly inspired me. I was buzzing after that.

“Every rider wants to wear the Yellow Jersey and I’ll wear it with pride.

“I had to badger my Dad to upgrade our tv when I was a kid so I could watch the Tour. I used to run home from school so I could see the last few miles

“I had an hour in the ‘hot’ seat and was sure somebody was going to beat my time.

“This is the stuff of dreams really. It’s my eighth Tour and I’ve finally won a stage. I didn’t expect it, but this is amazing after a tough month with the Giro.

“The goal is to still help Froomey but if I can spend a few more days in Yellow that would be great.”

Thomas stopped the clock in 16mins four secs to win over the tricky, rain-lashed 8.6mile course by five seconds.

The Monaco-based rider was distraught just a few weeks ago after his own Grand Tour hopes were ended by a crash on the Giro d’Italia when lying second.

“It has been a difficult month,” admitted Thomas. “I couldn’t watch the rest of the Giro, just went back to Manchester for treatment.

“It is been hard physically and mentally getting back as I’d worked so hard for the Giro, put everything into it for a few months and it’s gone in a second.

“But it was good to focus on something like the Tour and working for Chris Froome here.

“But it’s a special feeling to be in Yellow and I am going to enjoy it however long it lasts.”

Team-mate and fellow Cardiff-born rider Luke Rowe – whose job it is to decide tactics on the road stages – posted the 182nd best time of the 196 starters with a time of 17mins 54 secs.