Tour de France 2021: Geraint Thomas ‘gutted’ as Richie Porte and Tao Geoghegan Hart lose time
The Ineos Grenadiers leadership debate was upended on stage one of the Tour

Geraint Thomas said he’s “gutted” by team-mates Tao Geoghegan Hart and Richie Porte losing time at the Tour de France 2021.
Stage one of the 2021 Tour was blighted by two huge crashes inside the final 50km, with Ineos Grenadiers riders Porte and Geoghegan Hart among those caught up in the chaos.
British WorldTour squad Ineos have four potential leaders in the race, with Thomas and Richard Carapaz the only two now left in contention after the punchy opening day.
Porte, third-place finisher in last year’s Tour, finished 2-16 on stage winner Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step), while 2020 Giro d’Italia winner Geoghegan Hart was 5-33 behind the leading group as he crossed the line.
Speaking after the finish Thomas, who is hoping to repeat his 2018 Tour victory, said: “It was a solid day, stressful. We had a few crashes and obviously that big crash at the end.
“I had no idea who was in it. It ended up Richie being in it which wasn’t great, but I was just concentrating on staying on the bike.
“Gutted for Richie and Tao both crashing or being held up.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
While Porte and Geoghegan Hart were among the selection of general classification leaders to lose time on day one, along with the likes of Miguel Ángel López, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), and Steven Kruisjwijk (Jumbo-Visma), Thomas was amongst the strongest on the uphill finish into Landerneau.
The Welshman finished 10th on the stage, eight seconds behind Alaphilippe.
>>> Five talking points from stage one of the Tour de France 2021
Thomas said: “I was too far back on that last climb. At the time I thought I was okay, I thought I’d slowly move up and then I was expecting it to lull after the steeper bit and move up.
“But it never lulled. Alaphilippe went so hard for so long, it was full gas all the way up, which made my life a bit harder.
“But for me personally it’s not bad. I never feel 100 per cent the first day after a few easy days, so I’m happy to get through.”
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
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Lachlan Morton breaks yet another record, riding 'savage' 648km in one day
Australian pays tribute to New Zealand post office worker with latest feat
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Outside of cycling, I saw no one, I had no social life': Are young riders turning pro too fast, too soon?
Cycling’s rising stars are turning pro at ever younger ages – thrilling for the sport, but what about for the riders themselves? Chris Marshall-Bell investigates
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I never really had a Plan B' - Dan Martin on his cycling career and getting into running after retirement
The two-time Tour de France stage winner takes part in Cycling Weekly’s Q&A
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Geraint Thomas represented 'all the best things about the golden era of British Cycling' - tributes paid to retiring rider
Former and current teammates and other figures from within pro cycling react to the Welshman’s decision to retire at the end of the current season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers win first pro race in 226 days as Michał Kwiatkowski triumphs at Clásica Jaén
It was the Pole's 32nd professional victory, and his first since 2023
By Adam Becket Published
-
'You can’t keep doing it forever' - Geraint Thomas confirms retirement at end of 2025
'It would be nice to go to the Tour one more time' Welshman says
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
No Paris-Roubaix or Tour of Flanders for Tom Pidcock as he confirms spring calendar
AlUla Tour winner set to ride Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo for Q36.5
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Egan Bernal wins first race since 2022 horror crash, Ineos Grenadiers win first race in 215 days
Bernal’s victory was also Ineos Grenadier’s first win in months
By Tom Thewlis Published