Tour de France 2019: Geraint Thomas insists he and Team Ineos co-leader Egan Bernal are not rivals
Thomas will take to the start line in Brussels on Saturday aiming to defend his crown
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Geraint Thomas insists his Ineos teammate Egan Bernal is not his rival at the Tour de France despite the Colombian having been installed as co-leader.
Thomas will take to the start line in Brussels on Saturday aiming to defend his crown after clinching his first yellow jersey last year following a peaceful usurping of Chris Froome's leadership during the race.
With Froome absent following his serious crash at the Criterium du Dauphine, Thomas was expected to take up outright leadership of Team Ineos in their first Tour since rebranding from Team Sky, but Bernal’s excellent form – he won the Tour de Suisse last month after Thomas crashed out – moved Ineos manager Dave Brailsford to give him the license to go for overall victory in Paris on 28 July, perhaps with the aim of avoiding the awkward scrutiny over Froome and Thomas’s relationship last year.
Thomas joked: “Hopefully one of us wins and it’s really uneventful,” before adding: “We’re not rivals.”
It will be only Bernal’s second Tour de France but Brailsford insisted that the 22-year-old will not be fazed. “I think you have a physical age and a mental age, but when you’re ready, you’re ready,” he said. “He’s ready.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments