Geraint Thomas: I didn't know how good I'd be compared to rivals on La Planche des Belles Filles
The Welshman looked strongest of the GC contenders on the Tour's first summit finish


Geraint Thomas (Ineos) received the confirmation he needed on La Planche des Belles Filles, the first summit finish of the 2019 Tour de France.
Thomas is returning to defend his 2018 title but suffered a setback with a Tour de Suisse crash and a crash on the first day of the Tour in Brussels.
>>> Five talking points from stage six of the Tour de France 2019
"I knew I was going well, but having not raced the Tour de Suisse, you don't know how good you are compared to everyone else," Thomas said. "I knew I had some decent legs but this is conformation today that they are pretty good."
That confirmation serves the Welshman well as he races ahead in the Tour de France, with many more mountains stages to come and a young 22-year-old team-mate Egan Bernal who also has a chance.
"Not really for me, but maybe for everyone else who was questioning me," Thomas continued about racing the doubts.
"But I stay away from all that now and stay in my own little bubble, talk to my wife about the dog and the house in Cardiff or whatever, and leave all the talk to everyone else."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
In 2017, Thomas slipped out of the yellow jersey on the Planche des Belles Filles while Chris Froome worked his way to the eventual overall lead.
"Thanks for reminding me!" Thomas said with a laugh. "It was a lot better than that day for sure."
This year, the climb included an extra one kilometre at the top with gravel. Thomas used that section to power ahead to Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), who had attacked in the yellow jersey.
Ahead, Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) won the stage and when the calculations were made, Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) took the lead from Alaphilippe.
"[Bernal and I] both knew we just had to pace it," Thomas said. "When Alaphilippe went we didn't get carried away. He just came past and kept it rolling a bit. we just both knew, just 350ish to go, just pace it from there to the line. It felt my legs were going by the end as well. TT was a tough finish."
Thomas, though, was the best of the classification contenders by finishing fourth. He now leads with four seconds on Bernal, nine on Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and 15 on Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma).
"A climb like that wouldn't be my cup of tea, it suits the punchy guys so that's good for the morale," Thomas said.
"Everyone was looking pretty good, Richie Porte looked strong, I didn't see Adam Yates, but I think he was there. Everyone was good, but like I say, it's still early days. I knew it wouldn't be a decisive day, but the first little test to see how everyone would go.
"It was a good start, but it's only stage six. If you look at the TT. Every day after that is a big day bar two. So there is a lot of racing to come."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
The sun's out and so am I: why there's no shame in being a fair-weather bike rider
Let's be honest, rain and riding bikes don't mix well – there's nothing wrong with waiting for the sun
By James Shrubsall
-
FDJ-Suez, SD Worx-Protime, Lidl-Trek confirmed for Tour of Britain Women as strong list of teams announced
18 teams set to take part in four-day WorldTour stage race
By Tom Thewlis
-
'It can really push me along' - How a velodrome comeback is making Caleb Ewan faster on the road
Australian says he'll "definitely" continue track work after rekindling passion
By Tom Davidson
-
Could Caleb Ewan be Ineos Grenadiers' first Tour de France sprinter since Mark Cavendish? 'That's my goal'
"All I can do is try to win as much as possible and prove that I deserve to be there," says Australian
By Tom Davidson
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis