Retiring Thomas crossed paths with many top riders, but the Welshman knows who the "best of his generation" is

“I will miss the intensity, the routine, and having that goal to work towards and that pressure,” Thomas begins in conversation with The Guardian. “That’s been my life for 20-odd years. You wake up every morning knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. That’s what I will have to find again; otherwise, you go a bit crazy. I want to do an Ironman or something to push me mentally and physically.”

It is the duration of Thomas' career that is particularly impressive. The Brit rode his first Tour in 2007 and only his last this year. “I heard the other day that my 18 years from my first Tour to my last Tour was the longest by any rider during that time. It’s something I’m really proud of. All the wins are great, but being able to be competitive and stay at the top for that long is special.”

Throughout those years, Thomas has, of course, had many highlights. His Tour victory in 2018 stands out, of course, but the 39-year-old Brit also won gold at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012. “Huge highlights,” he calls them himself, although he is “just as proud of coming back from all the disappointments and injuries.”

The 2018 Tour would ultimately be the first and last Grand Tour that Thomas would win. He came close on several occasions, such as two years ago in the Giro. Then, in the penultimate stage, the Brit had to concede victory to Primoz Roglic. “The Giro was definitely tough and the one that got away. But I don’t have any regrets,” Thomas recalls.

It was also in the Tour of Italy that the veteran proved his class last year. Thomas finished third, behind the unbeatable Tadej Pogacar and Daniel Felipe Martinez. “I was super-proud of that. Obviously a pretty special guy in Pog won the race. So it was almost like a race for second. Danny pipped me but to be on the podium at 38 made me just as proud as winning the Tour.”

Thomas has encountered many top riders in his career. Early on, that was Peter Sagan. “Sagan was super-talented and, while he wasn’t built like a climber, some of the climbs he got over and the races he won were incredible,” he says, praising the three-time world champion.

Then it was teammate Chris Froome who impressed Thomas. “Especially considering his [Kenyan] background. He just had that engine, that raw talent. But it’s hard to see past Pogacar. He’s definitely the best of the generation and it’s unreal what he’s doing, winning one-day races all the way through to Grand Tours, smashing everyone in the Alps. It’s insane,” said Thomas.