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Thomas Withdraws from Worlds Team
Story posted September 2 | By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport
Latest: Thomas replacement: British Cycling has announced that following the withdrawal of Geraint Thomas from the forthcoming UCI Road World Championships, David Millar will now compete in both the Road Race and the Time Trial. Dave Brailsford, Performance Director for British Cycling commented: “Following selection, Geraint was feeling tired in subsequent races and felt the Road Worlds were out of reach. David Millar has now been selected to ride the Road Race as well as the Time Trial and based on his current form we believe he will work well with Jeremy to give Mark the best chance at the Road Worlds.”
PA Report: Geraint Thomas has withdrawn from the Great Britain team for the Cycling World Championships in Melbourne. The 24-year-old Team Sky man was last month named as one of two riders to support Mark Cavendish's bid for the world champion's rainbow jersey, but today confirmed he will no longer participate after feeling the effects of his exertions at July's Tour de France. Thomas told Press Association Sport: "I'm not going to be riding because I haven't felt too good since the Tour. I had a bit of down time and then at Eneco (last month's Eneco Tour) I was struggling to get back into it."
"I decided to just pull out because I don't think I'll be 100% there so I thought it would be better to step aside and let one of the other guys ride who are going to be more motivated and going a bit better."
Thomas, who was in possession of the best young rider's white jersey during the first week of the Tour, will now take more time to recuperate before riding for Wales at next month's Commonwealth Games. His participation in Melbourne clashed with the track events in Delhi, but now Thomas has added the individual pursuit to his programme, which includes the road time-trial and road race.
His withdrawal from the World Championships road race, the 262.7 kilometres from Melbourne to Geelong on October 3, will impact on Cavendish's hopes of emulating Tommy Simpson - the only British male to previously be crowned world champion, having won the road race in 1965. British Cycling are yet to name who will join Cavendish and Jeremy Hunt as Thomas' replacement in the road race team, but there are numerous contenders, including David Millar, who will already be in Australia to compete in the time-trial.
Rather than the maximum nine, Britain were allocated three spots for the event, hindering Cavendish's hopes over flat terrain which could end in a sprint finish in which the 25-year-old from the Isle of Man is renowned. Thomas said the numerical disadvantage will make life difficult for Cavendish, but believes the Manxman could still prevail. "It definitely limits Cav's chances, only having two guys to help him," said Thomas.
"He's just got to try to hang in there. He can look after himself a bit and he's got that respect in the peloton - people want to be on his wheel, rather than trying to fight him for somebody else's wheel. That's a big advantage for him."
Cavendish has been beaten in straight sprints at the year's final grand tour, the Vuelta a Espana, this week. "I'm sure he'd take a win if he could; I'm sure he's giving it everything," added Thomas. "But I'm sure in the back of his mind it's all about the worlds and it's all good training and preparation for that."
