It was a tough day out there. There's still a lot more to come and hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow, what happened today is a big surprise for many. It was the first day of the pure battle for the overall with big climbs. Personally I felt well and that makes me happy.

Geraint Thomas

Categorized in : Sports

I dont think it was the (race route), it was the fact that Alaphilippe started so strongly, had a good advantage and was so strong, it was incredible how he stepped up and improved. A big, big well done to him. He fought until the very end. Fair play to him and his team. That was the reason why the race was raced so differently.

Geraint Thomas

world

Egan is in yellow so the main thing is he finishes the job. I haven't seen any GC but for sure he'll have a decent advantage so we fully support him now.

Geraint Thomas

sports

I thought it was better just to try to ride my own pace and limit my losses that way, rather than stay with them and blow up on the steepest bit at the end, maybe I should have tried to stay with them - it's just one of those days. I was hoping I'd come round a bit. On the last climb it was just a matter of staying there for as long as possible.

Geraint Thomas

sports

I just didn't feel quite on it from the start really to be honest - just quite weak.

Geraint Thomas

sports

It's been excellent, things are really starting to heat up.

Geraint Thomas

sports

Adam Yates were in the perfect position when it split - Adam Yates all committed when Adam Yates needed to, when they tried to close it as quickly as possible but couldn't manage it, that's when the elastic snapped and Adam Yates really gained a bit of time.

Geraint Thomas

sports

I'm fine but it's just frustrating as the crash happened at a key point in the race, i caught up for the final ascent, was moving up a bit and by the time I got to the top 15-20, that's when Alaphilippe and Pinot attacked over the top to take the bonus seconds and I was gassed for a bit. Geraint Thomas had Geraint Thomas team mate Michal Kwiatkowski to thank for Michal Kwiatkowski recovery.

Geraint Thomas

sports

I felt pretty good. I thought it would be a more solid day - it's never easy, but it was steady for the first three climbs, when Movistar went and (Alejandro) Valverde were riding it was solid, I was feeling pretty good - I was just unsure as on those steep climbs I was expecting Richie Porte, Nairo Quintana and obviously Egan to jump up there, so I was hoping for it to be hardest all day before that. But it was a good day in the end.

Geraint Thomas

sports

I've put on a helmet more times than I've buckled a seatbelt.

Geraint Thomas

put than more helmet

Just dream big. Go for it. There's nothing holding you back. You can have ups and downs, but if you believe in something, keep the faith; keep fighting. And don't let people put you down.

Geraint Thomas

you faith believe people

You will have ups and downs - but believe anything is possible. With hard work, it can come off.

Geraint Thomas

you hard-work work believe

I just love riding my bike - no more so than at home in Cardiff and in South Wales on the roads where I started out, riding with my mates who I grew up with.

Geraint Thomas

roads bike home love

Life's not fair, I guess.

Geraint Thomas

guess fair not-fair life

Of course you want a better culture of cycling in the U.K. Better roads. More respect.

Geraint Thomas

roads you respect culture

I get moody when I'm tired or hungry. My missus says I get moody... but not with other people. But I can get grumpy.

Geraint Thomas

hungry tired i-can people

I like riding for five or six hours, then sitting on the sofa staring at the TV. It's my normal.

Geraint Thomas

like riding staring sitting

You get into such a routine of trying so hard each day and racing between 180 and 220 km., and as soon as you stop, it's weird, but you start to seize up. So it's easier if you keep the body ticking over. You just feel better for it come race day.

Geraint Thomas

feel better day you

I don't mind it when people come up to me and say, 'Well done.' That's lovely. The bit that's weird is stuff like... I've had a load of eBay people hounding me. Just sort of getting you to sign stuff which they can then sell.

Geraint Thomas

me you mind people

In Britain, we have this attitude that people are one-hit wonders. If it proves that way, I'd rather have had that one hit than not at all.

Geraint Thomas

wonders attitude people way

I used to run home from school to watch Paris-Nice, so to win it is just crazy.

Geraint Thomas

win crazy home school