• London Olympics 2012

Olympic glory comes before Tour de France - Thomas

ESPN staff
July 19, 2011
Geraint Thomas is putting the Olympics before next year's Tour de France © PA Photos
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Geraint Thomas has revealed he may miss next year's Tour de France if it compromises his preparations for London 2012.

The Team Sky rider will compete in a time trial later this summer to determine the effects of three gruelling weeks in France in order to gauge how the Tour might affect his performance at next summer's Olympics, which would start less than a month after the end of the 2012 Tour.

But Thomas, who won Team Pursuit gold with Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning and Ed Clancy in Beijing in a world record time, would sacrifice his place in the Tour in order to best prepare for his home Games.

"I wouldn't want to jeopardise the Olympics for anything," Thomas said. "I'd love to do the Tour again; it's the biggest bike race in the world. But at the same time the London Olympics is massive, there's nothing bigger than that. I'd miss the Tour to give myself every opportunity of winning in London."

Thomas, who was wearing the Tour's white jersey for best young rider until he lost time when Wiggins broke his collarbone on the seventh stage, has also revealed he would consider a move away from Team Sky.

"I'm definitely not going to discount [other offers]. I'd listen to anyone really, "he said. "A couple of the teams I've spoken to said they'd be happy to let me ride in the Games."

However, he later insisted he was happy with the British team. "For the record... I'm very happy here at Team Sky," he posted on his Twitter feed.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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