Geraint Thomas has signed a new two-year contract that will keep the double Olympic gold medalist at Team Sky until the end of 2016.
Thomas, who has ridden for Team Sky since the team’s inception in 2010, has established himself as one of the most versatile riders in the professional peloton.
After recording top ten finishes at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the spring, followed by overall victory in the Bayern-Rundfahrt stage race, Thomas finished 22nd overall in the Tour de France to secure his best result to date.
Thomas revealed after the finish of the final stage on the Champs-Elysees that he will focus on week-long events like Paris-Nice in 2015, as he continues his transition to a stage racer, while continuing to target the Spring Classics – and he will do so with Team Sky.
“I’m really happy to be staying with Team Sky for another two years,” Thomas told TeamSky.com. “I’ve been here since the start and I firmly believe it is the best place for me to fulfil my potential as a bike rider.
“I feel very supported here and I’m excited about what the future holds. I’ll look forward to challenging myself both on and off the bike and striving to become the very best at what I do.”
Thomas first rode the Tour de France with Barloworld in 2007, before winning the first of two Olympic gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He has subsequently rode four out of five editions of the Tour for Team Sky, missing the 2012 race to focus on his preparations for the London Olympic Games, where the Welshman won a second team pursuit gold medal with Great Britain, and was part of the squad which helped Chris Froome to victory in 2013.
Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford added: “We’re delighted that Geraint has re-signed for another two years. He’s been with Team Sky since we began and has been essential to the success that we’ve had.
“Team Sky has always been built around a strong British core – developing and nurturing home-grown talent to be the best they can be – and Geraint has been at the heart of that.
“On and off the bike, Geraint is an influential member of Team Sky. Not only is he a strong character but he’s one of a handful of world-class riders that can do it all, whether that’s on the climbs, flat, cobbles or time trials, which proves what a valuable member of the team he is.
“Over the last three weeks of the Tour de France Geraint has underlined his qualities again and shown that he’s an exceptional rider with an exciting future. He’s a great guy, a good leader and we’re delighted that he’ll be a key part of the team going forward.”
