Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas, left, and Chris Froome toast with Champagne on their way to Paris during the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday. Thomas won, Tom Dumoulin was second and Froome placed third.PARIS – From spitting to jeers to eggs – and even attempts to knock cyclists off their bikes during grueling climbs – Geraint Thomas never flinched at anything fans threw at him or Team Sky in this year’s Tour de France.
He didn’t back down from his rivals, either.
Thomas was the steadiest rider from the start of the three-week, 21-stage crucible, and then he became the strongest in the Alps and the Pyrenees. On Sunday, the 32-year-old Welshman concluded his transformation from a support rider into a champion of cycling’s biggest race.
“With the boys, that’s the main thing for the whole three weeks – we stuck together through some tough times, stayed strong,” Thomas said. “Everything just clicked this race.”
Thomas started the day with a lead of 1 minute, 51 seconds over second-place Tom Dumoulin and held on to it in the mostly ceremonial final stage. Chris Froome, Thomas’s teammate and a four-time winner of the race, finished third, 2:24 behind. Froome rode next to Thomas as they crossed the finish line and applauded.