Cycling: Geraint Thomas (Sky) wears the yellow jersey on the second rest day of the Tour de France. The Brit is considered to be a very talented and complete professional, but very few people have actually guessed him as the winner of the tour. Teammate Chris Froome is placed directly behind him. The experts don't agree: Can Geraint Thomas win the Tour de France, or does he have to make room for Chris Froome in the end?
Geraint Thomas wins two mountain finishes in a row
After it was announced before the start of the Tour de France that Chris Froome acquitted of all doping allegations the top favorite for the Tour of France was clear. But now it seems as if the four-time winner will not live up to his role as favorite. Because the competition in your own team is huge. After the Critérium du Dauphiné, Geraint Thomas now also won two mountain finishes in a row at the Tour de France. This has not happened in the Tour de France for many years. Much more important than the results, however, is the fact that Geraint Thomas hardly revealed any weaknesses. The Brit seems to have matured into a complete racing driver – and above all a classification driver. He is in the overall standings after 15 stages 1: 39 minutes ahead of teammate Chris Froome. Since Geraint Thomas is also considered a good time trialist, it should now be tight for Chris Froome with his fifth tour victory.
Check out the highlights from today's big mountain test at #TDF2018 as Geraint Thomas powered his way into the race lead with a stage win 🎥 @VelonCC pic.twitter.com/eYnxICNOKU
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 18, 2018
Chris Froome is running out of options
The Alps are already behind us. Chris Froome failed to gain time on his teammate and compatriot Geraint Thomas over the three mountain stages. On the contrary: Chris Froome has not yet been able to gain time on any stage. It was always Geraint Thomas who was able to increase his lead second by second. However, it is also worth mentioning that most of the distance is directly on the first stage came about. There, Chris Froome was involved in a fall which left him fat on Geraint Thomas 51 seconds lost. On previous Grand Tours such a mishap was usually not a problem for Froome. Thanks to his strong team and tactical finesse, he always managed to turn the tables. But this time it won't be enough because Geraint Thomas can finally fall back on the same team. He doesn't seem to be weaker either, just stronger.
Check out the highlights from a big day out, finishing on the famous Alpe d'Huez. That Welshman is still in yellow! #TDF2018 @GeraintThomas86 @VelonCC 🎥 pic.twitter.com/4AqABg3Mam
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 19, 2018
Geraint Thomas vs. Chris Froome: Which winner does Sky want?
The 2018 Tour de France is not over yet. The Pyrenees are still completely ahead of us. Still, everything looks like this year's Tour winner will definitely come from Team Sky. Even though Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) and Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) aren't far behind, the performances of Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome were too impressive. So the question arises as to which of the two can win the Tour de France when the team management is spoiled for choice. Officially, it is still said that Chris Froome is the captain and Geraint Thomas is his noble assistant. But with every day more in the yellow jersey, the questions and the doubts are growing. One thing is clear: Sky wants Froome to win a fifth tour because it would mean that he would join the ranks of the greatest professionals of all time. At the same time, however, it cannot be assumed that Thomas will lose almost two more minutes to Froome. So the cycling fans become one Stable order get to see? Does Geraint Thomas have to give up his place in the sun for Chris Froome? This would be possible due to a bad mountain stage and a controlled loss of time in the time trial. Should it actually happen, however, Team Sky will make itself even less popular in cycling.
1-2 on GC at #TDF2018. What a pair of riders @GeraintThomas86 @chrisfroom 👍👈 pic.twitter.com/M0FAbPikKO
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 19, 2018