Geraint Thomas has signed a new three-year deal with Team Sky, ending speculation that one of the hottest properties in the pro peloton may be riding elsewhere in 2012.
- Geraint Thomas wore the Tour de France’s white jersey from stages one to seven
The Welshman, riding his third Tour de France, has been one of the main protagonists in this year’s race, wearing the white jersey for best young rider in the opening week after finishing sixth on stage one, before playing a key role in Edvald Boasson Hagen’s sprint victory and going on to win the combativity award after a long breakaway in the Pyrenees.
Thomas’ form had lead to enquiries from other teams as to his availability once his current contracts ends later this year – but the 25-year-old rubber-stamped a new deal with Team Sky that will keep him at the British outfit until 2014.
“The team have shown their potential over the last 18 months and I am delighted to have been a part of that success,” said Thomas.
“The management have shown real faith in me as a rider and I feel like I’m improving all the time. The future is really exciting for Team Sky and British Cycling and I’m thrilled I will be able to play a part in it.”
Thomas was part of Great Britain’s gold medal winning team pursuit quartet at the Beijing Olympic Games under the guidance of Dave Brailsford, now combining his role as Team Sky principal with his post as British Cycling performance director, who hailed Thomas as ‘world class’.
“We are delighted that Geraint has re-signed for another three years with Team Sky,” said Brailsford. “We have been determined from the start to build and develop a team around the very best homegrown talent like Geraint.
“The last two weeks at the Tour de France have underlined again his world class abilities and we look forward to seeing even more from him over the next three years.”
And Team Sky sports director Sean Yates, one of only four British riders to wear the Tour’s yellow jersey, underlined Thomas’ value to the squad: “G is one of the strongest riders in the team.
“You can say anything to him and he carries it out to perfection, he can do it all. He’s always got the legs and we’ve seen it time and again this year – he’s worth five men really and it’s great news. He’s fantastic to work with and this gives everyone another lift.”
