TEAM Sky rider Geraint Thomas has signalled his intentions to focus all his efforts on the Olympic Games by pulling out of next year’s Tour de France.
The 25-year-old Welsh rider, who wore the white jersey for the best young rider over the opening seven stages of this year`s Tour, has sacrificed the chance to ride alongside new team-mate Mark Cavendish, the current green jersey holder, as a result.
But with the Olympics on the horizon, Thomas, the 2008 team pursuit gold medalist, wants to put them first and will instead compete in the Giro D`Italia.
“The Olympics is the main goal for me so I don’t want to jeopardise that in any way,” he said.
“Riding the tour is a bit more of a gamble. I could be going really well but could also end up on my knees and pretty tired.
“I’m going to be doing similar preparations to before Bejing (2008) when I rode the Giro and didn’t ride the Tour.”
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