Pausing at times along the way for
a swig of Champagne, Geraint Thomas rode triumphantly, completing the final
stage of the Tour de France and becoming the first Welshman to win the famed
race. After years of being a supportive teammate to other Team Sky riders, like
four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, Thomas’s turn to win his first
Tour de France arrived at the age of 32.
Thomas and the peloton completed
the arduous, three-week race with a largely ceremonial 72-mile ride on the
Champs Elysees. Thomas beat Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands by 1:51.
Thomas’s Team Sky teammate, Froome, was third, 2:24 behind Thomas, who joins Froome
(2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Bradley Wiggins (2012) as the only British men
to win the race. Six of the last seven Tours have been won by British riders.
Thomas has been known for grit and
determination that surpasses what is the norm for cyclists. He rode in the 2013
Tour with a broken pelvis, saying it was “the worst pain I’ve ever experienced
on a bike.” In 2005, he suffered a ruptured spleen when he was struck by a
piece of metal during a ride in Australia. He has never finished better
than 15th in a grand tour, partly because he has usually played a supportive
role to his teammates.
Peter
Sagan won the Green Jersey, the sprinter Jersey with 477 points. Julian
Alaphilippe won the White with Red Polka dots Jersey, King of the mountains
Jersey. Pierre Roger Latour won the White Jersey, the fastest overall rider
under the age of 25. Best team Jersey was awarded to Movistar Team. Daniel
Martin from UAE Team Emirates won the Super Combative Jersey.
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