Team Sky hit by late punctures at the Dubai Tour
Thomas finishes ninth as he builds towar♊ds Paris-Nice and the Spring Classics
Team Sky celebrated Elia Viviani's sprint victory at the Dubai Tour 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:on Thursday but misfortune spoilt their chances on Friday's 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:uphill finish to Hatta Dam, with Ben Swift taken out of the reckoning by a puncture, leaving 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Geraint Thomas to 😼try his best on the 17 per cent ramp to the fin♒ish.
The Welshman was well-placed near the front of the peloton in the final kilometre b🎉ut could not match John Degenkolb's speed and big-ring power, finishing ninth at seven seconds.
“We were unlucky with Swifty puncturing with only nine kilometres to go and we also lost Puccio and Lopez with punctures at the same time,” Thomas told Cyclingnews as he recovered from his effort.
“We were just waiting and waiting, hoping he would come back. Then when I realised he wasn't going to make it, I tried to go for it myself. I was in an ideal position but I didn't quite have the legs. I started in the big ring which wasღ a bit silly, so I dropped it🌠 down but I haven't got that kind of kick at the moment.”
Thinking of Paris-Nice, the cobbled Classics and the Vuelta
Thomas has consistently shown his potential in short stage races and especially the cobbled Class🌸ics, while also playing a key domestique role for Team Sky at the Tour de Franဣce.
In 2015 he has a similarly tough race programme, with an added goal of theౠ world championships and the Vuelta a Espana.
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“I've started the season off a little bit quieter than previous years because I'd like to ride the Classics, the Tour, the Vuelta and the world championships, so that's a long year ahead,” Thomas explained to Cyclingnews.
“I've want to gi🅺ve the Vuelta a good crack, not for the GC but to try for a stage and to help our leader. Then the worlds are also a goal.”
Thomas rode the Tour Down Under in support of Richie Porte. He revealed to Cyclingnews he will have a similar ro♋le at Paris-Nice in early March before🌠 having an expected leadership role in the cobbled Classics.
I'm riding the Volta ao Algarve (February 18-22) and then Paris Nice (March 8-15). I really hope to be on good form for Paris-Nice. Then I'll take any🐭thing that comes along in the six weeks of the Spring Classics, I'm not fussy,” he 🦩said.
“Richie will be the leader at Paris-Nice and I'll be there as back-up. I'll perhaps ride for myself until the ꦓfirst hard stage and then if he needs me, then I'll ride for him. If not, I'll do my own thing, a bit like at the Tour Down Under last year. He was third, while I got eighth. A similar result would be great before the Classics.”
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Stephen is one of the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.