Legend Thomas gets ready for his last race

GERAINT THOMAS could hardly have drawn up a better route for his final professional race if he had done it himself.

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‘The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will be the last event of an illustrious career which began with Olympic gold medals on the track and peaked with his 2018 Tour de France title.

And just to make sure emotions are at a premium, this week's race will finish with Sunday's stage into the 39-year-old’s home city of Cardiff.

“It’s just crazy, really,’ Thomas told the PA news agency. “I'm lucky the Lloyds Tour of Britain comes at the end of the season almost, so I can finish my career on home roads...

“The last stage goes past Maindy (the outdoor velodrome where Thomas learned his craft), it goes within 100 metres of mum and dad's house, it goes past the pub where I had my first pint. Well, my first legal pint. It will be an amazing way to finish, and it certainly feels like the right time.”