Geraint Thomas looked as though he was about to claim a dramatic victory in today's fourth stage at the Tour de Romandie, only for a freak incident to cost him the win in Switzerland.
The Welsh cyclist was locked in a tense battle with Michael Woods as the pair approached the finishing line, although Thomas looked as though he would just hand on for victory.
However, the weather conditions would then wreak havoc. With sleet falling in Thyon, the Ineos Grenadiers rider slipped only 50 metres from the line to hand the win to his opponent. He was also overtaken by Aussie Ben O’Connor to finish in third place.
Replay of Geraint Thomas crashing inside final 50 meters while sprinting for the stage win at Romandie pic.twitter.com/HMqqY7a3WC
— Neal Rogers 🇺🇦 (@nealrogers) May 1, 2021
This also gave Woods the yellow jersey heading into the fifth stage, overtaking previous leader Marc Soler.
Speaking to Cycling Pro Net after the race, Thomas said:
I just had no feeling whatsoever in my hands, I tried to change gears and instead I just lost the bars … so frustrating.
Even if I’d just stayed in that gear, I would have finished second. But to deck it there, I feel like a right whopper.
I’m fine, it’s more the frustration of such a hard day and to just lose time at the end is just really frustrating.
Well what a shocker of a final 100m!! I had no feeling in my hands so when I tried to change gear, I just lost my grip on the bars🤦♂️😡I’m all good though, thanks for the messages!! #onedaytogo
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) May 1, 2021
A winner of the Tour de France in 2018, Thomas's previous best finish in this event was third in 2019.
He currently sits 11 seconds behind Woods in the overall standings after today's racing.
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