Five_extraordinary_night-time_experiences_around_the_world.txt
Geraint_Thomas_Retiring_Tour_de_France_winner_in_his_own_words_-_BBC_Sport.txt
Coaching,quina 04/07/2017 hangovers, skiing - Thomas' retirement in his own wordsImage source, Rex FeaturesImage caption, Geraint Thomas has represented Ineos Grenadiers since the team's inception - then as Team Sky - in 2010ByDafydd PritchardBBC Sport WalesPublished8 September 2025192 CommentsByTomos DafyddBBC Sport WalesGeraint Thomas is feeling fragile. It's the morning after the night before, when the former Tour de France champion brought the curtain down on his glittering career.After Sunday's final stage of the Tour of Britain, Thomas was greeted by thousands at a special ceremony at Cardiff Castle, before heading off for a party with family and friends.Usually, the 39-year-old would be thinking about how best to recover from his hangover in preparation for his next training ride or race.But having crossed the finish line for the final time, at the end of a career that spanned three decades, Thomas needn't worry about racing anymore.The double Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion invited BBC Sport Wales to his home to reflect on Sunday's farewell and look ahead to what the future holds.Thomas - 10 races that shaped the legend of 'G'Published8 SeptemberThomas' ride on time brings curtain down on glittering careerPublished7 SeptemberTour winner Geraint Thomas - a career in picturesPublished2 SeptemberBBC Sport Wales: How were last night's celebrations?Geraint Thomas: "It was good. I struggled to get up this morning. I didn't even hear you come in, actually, and then my father-in-law woke me up and said: 'They're all downstairs waiting for you.' I was like, 'Oh, man'. I don't really remember that much towards the end of the night, but it was great - the bits I do remember."The castle, everyone there was just amazing. The finish with the crowd at the podium and then we went into town with just the team and friends and family, and it was really good. I'm just suffering now, but it was all worth it."Reflecting on Sunday, we don't often see you emotional. It was such a great turnout. How was your final race?"It was just amazing to finish in Cardiff. I'm so lucky the Tour of Britain is when it is, this time of year at the end of the season, so we could finish here. The organisers making the finish in Cardiff was the stuff of dreams. It was unreal riding through Birchgrove, where I grew up, by my mum and dad's house, past Maindy (Thomas' first cycling club), there's no better way to finish."This is the first day of a new chapter in your life. Is this something you prepared for?"Not really. I have an idea of what I'm going to do professionally, stay with the team [Ineos Grenadiers] more than likely. I feel like I've got a lot of experience to offer there."But then there's a whole other side of not having to ride a bike anymore but still wanting to be active and maybe trying some different sports. I've bigged myself up about doing an Ironman, but now I'm starting to regret that! I'd still love to do one. I wouldn't be taking it too seriously."I've booked a skiing holiday for January, which is something I've never done before. I'm doing everything I've put off for the last 20 years."You mentioned a role with the team. What kind of role do you envisage?"I spoke to Dave [Brailsford] about it quite a lot, and a lot of it is sitting back and taking it all in. As an athlete, I know a lot about preparing for racing and doing my thing, but the team on the whole is a whole organisation."So just figuring out how that all works, but the main thing would be working with riders, their goals and how you prepare for it, getting race programmes and the training and everything and then going to races and executing those plans. So that's exciting."That's something I've done for the last 20 years and now it's sort of doing it on a bigger scale. That's the general idea. Nothing's confirmed yet but I feel like doing something that would excite me."Working with guys like Filippo Ganna who's got a great chance of winning some big one-day races like Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo. Then you've got the younger guys coming through, like Josh Tarling, who's only 21, so just helping guys like that and sharing my knowledge and experience."To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMedia caption, Geraint Thomas: Home finish in Cardiff 'perfect' for retiring cyclistWhat will you miss the most?"I think the camaraderie in the team, when you're all in it together out on the road and afterwards as well, when you debrief and you're talking about what happened. It sounds a bit corny but it's sort of like a band of brothers type of feel to it. I'll definitely miss that."But then there's a hell of a lot that I won't miss. Obviously, the training, the time away and stuff - but it was definitely a lot more good than bad. It's definitely the right time to call it a day."Speaking to your parents last night, they said they were relieved you'd finished in one piece. After all the crashes and injuries, is it a relief to come to the end?"Calling time on your career on your own terms is rare, so that's what I'm most relieved about. When it comes to crashes and stuff, you don't really think about it as an athlete. I know a few rugby boys and they don't think about getting injured, but everyone that cares about them does. It's the same thing for me."Sa [Thomas' wife Sara] struggles to watch it. She was watching from the studio one day and that's when I hit a telegraph pole and disappeared off a cliff. From that day, she didn't really watch anymore. My mum, I don't think she's watched me race since I've been 18. So yeah, they're definitely relieved that I've stopped, and in one piece."But for me, I've never really thought about it because otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it. It's almost like you just take that pin out and you just go."What are you looking forward to most in the next chapter of your life?"Definitely being around more with my family, doing some different sports, moving back to Cardiff as well in a year or so. It's a big change - I've lived on the Cote d'Azur for 13 years. It's going to take a bit of adjusting to the weather and everything."But it just feels right for all of us - for Sa, for me, for Macs [Thomas' son] to come home, to be around family more. We're sending Macs to a Welsh school so I'm definitely going to learn some Welsh. I can't have him speaking to Sa behind my back!"It's a new chapter and I'm looking forward to new things now."Related topicsWales SportCyclingComments can not be loadedTo load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browserCommentsJoin the conversationThese comments are now closed.192 commentsShowLatestOldestHighest RatedMost RepliedHComment by HugoRight at 18:16 8 SepHugoRight18:16 8 SepWell deserved. About as good as it gets.Reply1697Show comment linksBComment by bp24 at 23:58 8 Sepbp2423:58 8 Septo HugoRight"Well deserved. About as good as it gets."And this comment is voted down? I despair.Reply338Show comment linksMComment by mrfiggis at 19:59 8 Sepmrfiggis19:59 8 SepWhat a fantastic Cardiff boy I loved his interviews/ just a normal bloke but with an extraordinary talent and down to earth level headed persona- a true legend of welsh sportReply1037Show comment linksJComment by Job And Knock at 21:32 8 SepJob And Knock21:32 8 Septo mrfiggis"What a fantastic Cardiff boy I loved his interviews/ just a normal bloke but with an extraordinary talent and down to earth level headed persona- a true legend of welsh sport"Is he Welsh? You don’t mention it muchReply1045Show comment linksMore replies (6)UComment by User0122428673 at 18:50 8 SepUser012242867318:50 8 SepCongratulations G on an amazing career in the sport, he lived the dream & accomplished so much.Enjoy retirement & what lies ahead !Reply835Show comment linksVComment by Voodooman at 20:46 8 SepVoodooman20:46 8 SepA knighthood wouldn't be a surprise and he certainly deserves one IMHO. A true sporting hero and a wonderful role model for aspiring young Welsh cyclists. Thanks for the entertainment for the last 20 years Gee.Reply786Show comment linksRemoved CommentMore replies (5)MComment by Mikebbc at 19:17 8 SepMikebbc19:17 8 SepA great career and well-deserved retirement. Great cyclist, always good to watch and also listen to his honest comments when competeingReply776Show comment linksDComment by Dazzer66 at 20:18 8 SepDazzer6620:18 8 SepAn amazing career.A most selfless rider who could have won more but always a joy to watchI wish you a long and healthy retirementReply549Show comment linksHComment by Harry 50p Head at 21:04 8 SepHarry 50p Head21:04 8 Septo Dazzer66"An amazing career. A most selfless rider who could have won more but always a joy to watch I wish you a long and healthy retirement"Who’s the thumbs down guy?Are you really that troubled?What an amazing person and athlete, brilliant to see you stepped off the bike on your own terms, drug free tooChapeau The whole of EnglandReply5312Show comment linksMore replies (3)MComment by MarkS at 19:15 8 SepMarkS19:15 8 SepPerhaps the last of Britain's Golden Cycling Generation. I hope it won't be long before the next one comes alongReply517Show comment linksEComment by Edinburgh Jim at 19:42 8 SepEdinburgh Jim19:42 8 Septo MarkS"Perhaps the last of Britain's Golden Cycling Generation. I hope it won't be long before the next one comes along"There are twenty odd UK riders in the World Tour and Yates won the Giro. The current generation are doing ok.Reply496Show comment linksMore replies (9)SComment by snowy at 19:13 8 Sepsnowy19:13 8 SepSimply The Best G????????????????Reply486Show comment linksLComment by Lanterne Rogue at 19:45 8 SepLanterne Rogue19:45 8 SepI'm only amazed he's managed to finally climb off his bike at a time of his choosing. I always assumed he'd fall off it in vaguely farcical circumstances instead. One of my favourite riders though, and a character that'll be missed.Reply434Show comment linksHComment by Hayden at 19:48 8 SepHayden19:48 8 Septo Lanterne Rogue"I'm only amazed he's managed to finally climb off his bike at a time of his choosing. I always assumed he'd fall off it in vaguely farcical circumstances instead. One of my favourite riders though, and a character that'll be missed."Death by excessive cycling?Reply013Show comment linksMore replies (2)EComment by Ekeko at 21:24 8 SepEkeko21:24 8 SepGreat champion and smashing bloke.No need to say any more.Reply424Show comment linksJComment by Job And Knock at 21:52 8 SepJob And Knock21:52 8 Septo Ekeko"Great champion and smashing bloke. No need to say any more."??Reply110Show comment linksSComment by Spoondog at 20:35 8 SepSpoondog20:35 8 SepDelighted that he got to wrap things up in Cardiff where he grew up, must have been really emotional. Also as someone who increasingly watches the descents through through my hands, I'm also pleased he came through in one piece, especially after the horror injury recently suffered by Froome. Hope he enjoys his retirement on the piste.Reply374Show comment linksJComment by Job And Knock at 21:35 8 SepJob And Knock21:35 8 Septo Spoondog"Delighted that he got to wrap things up in Cardiff where he grew up, must have been really emotional. Also as someone who increasingly watches the descents through through my hands, I'm also pleased he came through in one piece, especially after the horror injury recently suffered by Froome. Hope he enjoys his retirement on the piste."Is he Welsh? Not mentioned. ????????????Reply730Show comment linksMore replies (2)HComment by howard jones at 19:56 8 Sephoward jones19:56 8 SepDrug free??Reply364Show comment linksRemoved CommentMore replies (1)IComment by Ianto at 21:10 8 SepIanto21:10 8 SepHe went to my school with Garth Bale and Sam Warburton, (but 50 years after me) amazing that they all excelled at different sports, it does show the dedication and abilities they all had. Do enjoy your retirement Mr Thomas and we hope you can unearth a worthy replacement for yourself, so hard to replace a legend Many thanks for making us proud to be Welsh.Reply376Show comment linksRemoved CommentMore replies (6)RComment by rupertbu at 20:23 8 Seprupertbu20:23 8 SepBest wishes for his retirement ??Reply315Show comment linksRemoved CommentMore replies (1)AComment by Asterix at 19:52 8 SepAsterix19:52 8 SepNational treasure!Reply285Show comment linksKComment by Keithkthkth at 19:48 8 SepKeithkthkth19:48 8 SepChapeauReply296Show comment linksRComment by Rhoces1968 at 19:53 8 SepRhoces196819:53 8 SepThe best. A total legend!Reply225Show comment linksSComment by Sid Vicious at 20:39 8 SepSid Vicious20:39 8 SepLegend. End of.Reply226Show comment linksRemoved CommentSComment by Sarah at 20:51 8 SepSarah20:51 8 SepIf Carlsberg did retirements...Great career, been a pleasure watching you from start to finish. What a easy to bow out!Reply215Show comment linksSComment by Sarah at 20:53 8 SepSarah20:53 8 Septo Sarah"If Carlsberg did retirements... Great career, been a pleasure watching you from start to finish. What a easy to bow out!"*wayReply75Show comment linksJComment by Job And Knock at 21:27 8 SepJob And Knock21:27 8 SepA great British cyclist, no doubt about it ????????????????????????Reply2310Show comment linksMore commentsBack to toploading comments module
