Alberto Contador may have stated that he no longer eats red meat after his positive test for Clenbuterol in last year’s Tour de France, but Geraint Thomas is showing no qualms at all about the food. The Sky Procycling rider has signed a deal with the Welsh red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) to be the new ambassador for Welsh beef and lamb.
The 25 year old is improving year by year as a rider, and building a strong profile. Last season he won the British road race championship, finished second on a stage of the Tour de France and wore the best young rider jersey for several days.
This year, he placed a close second in the Dwars door Vlaanderen, tenth in the Tour of Flanders and then won the Bayern Rundfahrt. He was seventh in the time trial in this week’s Critérium du Dauphiné.
In announcing the deal, he has emphasised the importance of nutrition in sport. “Fuelling yourself for any exercise, whether it’s the Tour de France or just a friendly game of football with your friends, it’s important that you eat the right foods to get the essential vitamins,” he said.
The HCC chairman Dai Davies explained why Thomas was chosen for the role. “He is one of the UK’s top athletes and is a great example of how eating red meat can help to fuel the success of the nation’s top sportsmen and women.”
He will defend his national road race title later this month, then is expected to compete in the Tour de France. According to Sky Procycling coach Rod Ellingworth, Thomas will ride the Dauphine at 100 percent to gain experience, and is likely to wear the white jersey once again in the Tour.
Thomas spoke to VeloNation at length on Wednesday about his Dauphiné campaign. The second part of that interview will appear soon on this site.