Thomas hitting power PBs in Tour fight

Former winner has tweaked his training and diet this year

- Vern Pitt and Chris Marshall-Bell

A change to his diet, training methods, and race A programme are behind Geraint Thomas finding some of his best form since 2018 at this year's Tour de France and hitting some of his highest power numbers.

The Welshman, who won the yellow jersey in 2018, sat third on the general classification entering the race's third week. He has mostly kept pace with the two leading riders Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) through the mountains.

Although the Ineos Grenadiers leader lost time on the explosive Col du Granon climb on stage 11 he still gained on Pogačar, who was having his worst day of the race so far. Then on the following day's stage to Alpe d'Huez, although he was unable to match their accelerations, which he said required bursts of 1,000 watts, he winched himself back on and sprinted across the line with them.

He was once again the best of the rest on the steep ramp to the airport at Mende where he also lost time but minimized his losses to just 17 seconds.

Team boss Rod Ellingworth said earlier in the race that Thomas was "the best I've ever seen him" and his performance in the Alps and as the race crossed the Massif Central seemed to confirm that assessment.

Not that Thomas, perhaps mindful of giving away too much information or just being cautious, entirely agreed. "It's hard to compare as it's a totally different race with different people but I've felt good so far and I'm hopeful I will next week," he said.