- Geraint Thomas won the Tour de France in 2018 and is a double Olympic champion
- After 19 years as a professional, the Welshman is finally ready to call him one day
- But he says that competing in strictly would be “the biggest challenge of my life”
Geraint Thomas has announced that he will retire from cycling at the end of this season, and then wants to try himself in Strictly Come Dancing.
The 38 -year -old became the third British, and the firstborn in the United Kingdom, to win the Tour of France when he triumphed in 2018, since he also collected Olympic gold medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Thomas will now compete in a last Tour de France this summer before knocking down the curtain in his brilliant race in the Great Britain tour in September, which could end in his hometown of Cardiff.
“This is my 19th year as a professional and did not want to have too many years and be the grumpy guy in the team,” said the Welshman based in Monaco, whose contract of Bareaderos of Ineos expires this year.
'I am still really enjoying it, I still feel competitive and the last year has been good, but I think the moment is correct. The main thing is my family. My son Max will be six years old this year, which is crazy.
“There are things that I think I will miss, the races, be here in Monaco, but it will be nice to be closer and assume a new challenge.”
In 2018, Geraint Thomas followed in the footsteps of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome by winning the Tour de France, the oldest and prestigious of the three great tours.
Thomas (second left) also won gold medals in London 2012 and four years earlier in Beijing
The Welshman, whose contract of the Grenadiers of Ineos expires this year, wants to focus on the family
That new challenge could see Thomas change the roads to the dance hall with a period strictly.
“My parents tell me:” Please, don't do it, you'll make a fool of yourself “and that makes me want to do it,” he said. 'That would be the biggest challenge of my life safely. Maybe I have my hips for it.
'I also want to make an Ironman. I just run two or three times a year, so that is something that needs a little work. It's about challenging myself in different ways.
Reflecting on his general career, Thomas added: 'Since I was a child, I dreamed of touring and being part of the Olympic Games and winning obviously was also a dream, but achieving that was just crazy.
'The tour is what changed my life, being recognized everywhere. The yellow shirt is iconic. You go anywhere in the world and people will know the yellow shirt, how it means cycling and its history. So, to be part of that story and win it, I pinched.
'Never in my wildest dreams I imagined being a professional for 19 years. There will be a lot of time to reflect, but before that, I have some great races to prepare.
British Cycling paid tribute to Thomas, who first joined his team in 2005, after his retirement announcement.
“I would like to congratulate Geraint for a star career, one that has shown what is possible within a sport so exhausting and captivating for those who have the determination and determination to succeed at the highest level,” said the performance director of British cycling Stephen Park.
The Victory of the Tour de Geraint Thomas in 2018 limited a period of domain for Team Sky whose runners won six of seven tours, with Froome responsible for four of those victories
The 38 -year -old has had many champagne moments and is now ready to get to the dance floor.
'His victory of the 2018 Tour of France will be of history, since the first time a Welshman has achieved the prestigious and very close.
'We will all encourage him in the coming months while competing in his last season and we hope to say goodbye while making the September tour of Great Britain in his final career.
“G has been a key figure in each team that has been part of the years and will be remembered as one of the greats of all time.”