For a moment, Thomas' last Tour seemed in danger, but Brit still expresses fine ambitions: 'It was terrible, mate'

“I had no idea what to expect back in 2007,” Thomas recalled of his debut. “It was just a completely new world. Now, in my fourteenth Tour, I more or less know what’s coming.”

“That doesn’t make it easier,” he added, “but it does bring a lot of experience, a lot of tough miles. My place in the team is definitely different. Back then I was just the young British kid; now I’m hoping to guide the guys through the race. But I’m still excited — I’m still really looking forward to this final Grand Tour.”

Thomas will support team leader Carlos Rodríguez deep into the mountains but hasn’t ruled out his own chances along the way. “I’d love to be competitive and maybe win a stage,” he said. “That would be amazing, but you need to be in top shape for that. The main goal is obviously to support Carlos as much as possible, both on and off the bike. I just want to play my role and share whatever wisdom I can.”

Thomas’ participation was briefly in doubt after a crash at the Tour de Suisse, but the Welshman has made a full recovery. “It was horrible, mate,” he admitted. “I worked so hard to get here, so I think I’m an absolute legend for making it,” he joked with a grin.

“In all seriousness, it wasn’t that bad. The team was being cautious because my foot got stuck behind my back, and I twisted my hamstring and calf. But I’ve had some solid motor-pacing sessions with my coach Adrian and did what I could.”

While he would’ve preferred a proper benchmark before the Tour, he feels ready. “It’s frustrating because it would’ve been nice to see where I stood compared to the others, instead of just training. But everything’s good now, no issues on my end.”

Even with his final Tour on the horizon, Thomas isn’t quite ready to close the book. “It’s been an incredible career, but I haven’t really thought about saying goodbye yet. I’ve always been focused on what’s coming next — I’ll reflect when it’s all truly done. There’s still one big chapter to come,” he concluded. “We’re going to give it everything, go all in, and we’ll look back once it’s over.”