GERAINT THOMAS TO MISS COMMONWEALTH GAMES.
Geraint Thomas has explained that his commitment to Team Sky will not permit him to defend his Commonwealth Game title in 2018.
The 30-year old endured a puncture in Glasgow but persisted to win the gold medal, after a solo attack.
Thomas had won this year Paris-Nice with Team Sky, but would not be present to defend the title at the next game, which is scheduled to take place in 2018. He explained that he will miss the event due to his schedule with British World Tour outfit.
Owain Doull and Luke Rowe who are also part of the Team Sky squad would also be unavailable for selection due to engagement at the cobbled classic.
Thomas who has won time trial bronze, and his fellow Welshmen had consider it most unfortunate that the three of them will miss out of the chance to represent wales at the game. In an interview, he told BBC Wales Sport:
“Where they fall in April is the wrong time for us. Luke and Owain will still have the cobblestone classics in Belgium, which will be their main target. At the end of the day, Team Sky pay us to race bikes for them and we’ve got to do what they say. Especially as it’s in Australia, it’s not like you can fly in and out over a weekend.”
Considering that by 2018, the European season would be in full swing. It appears that most leading European riders will be absent at the Commonwealth games. And coupled with the absence of Thomas, Luke and Owain, the commonwealth game in 2018 will definitely be missing some of its top contenders.
Wales had done remarkably well at Glasgow, winning five gold medals. With Elinor Barker winning silver and bronze in the points race and scratch race respectively, while Matt Ellis and Pilot Leuan Williams claimed bronze in the men’s tandem B kilo time trial.
