Social media account of lecturer who has same name as Tour de France winner goes ‘mental’

One is the winner of the Tour de France 2018 – the other is a lecturer of Visual Effects at the University of South Wales and most certainly not a cyclist.

But guess which Geraint Thomas was nonetheless inundated with tweets from the public congratulating him on his supposed win?

Geraint Thomas, a lecturer from Penarth, South Wales, has become somewhat famous since using the Twitter handle @geraintthomas, with many cyclist fans mistaking him for Welshman Thomas, the third Briton to win the Tour on Sunday.

Tour de France winner Britain’s Geraint Thomas, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates after the twenty-first stage of the Tour de France

For years Geraint Thomas, 30, has been bombarded by messages meant for the cyclist – whose Twitter handle is @GeraintThomas86 

Following the news that Thomas, 32, was going to win the Tour, his namesake posted on Twitter: ‘And now my twitter account is going mental,’ followed by ‘So this is what it’s like to be famous’

For years Geraint Thomas, 30, has been bombarded by messages meant for the cyclist – whose Twitter handle is @GeraintThomas86.

His Twitter bio says: ‘Lecturer in Visual Effects. Not a cyclist, nor do I own a yellow cardigan.’

And instead of blowing a fuse, Mr Thomas replies humorously to the many who have mistakenly contacted him via the social networking site: ‘For those who want a signed set of stabilisers, just get in touch. #imnotacyclist’, he recently wrote.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Mr Thomas said: ‘[I woke] up this morning to find a tweet of mine has been liked 8,000 times and viewed half a million times! It’s a bit surreal.’ 

Speaking to the MailOnline, Mr Thomas said: ‘[I woke] up this morning to find a tweet of mine has been liked 8,000 times and viewed half a million times! It’s a bit surreal’

Instead of blowing a fuse, Mr Thomas replies humorously to the many who have mistakenly contacted him via the social networking site

Thomas holds the Welsh flag above his head as he celebrates winning the Tour de France 

Fabian Cancellara, the former Swiss professional road bicycle racer, even praised the lecturer for his ‘win’

He added: ‘It’s not annoying in the slightest, more amusing than anything! It’s all a bit of fun at the end of the day, even if it does look like it’s getting a little bit out of hand!

‘I’m trying to keep on top of it, I did have plans for the day but that’s been put aside purely to keep on top of social media! Need a PA at this rate…’

Following the news that Thomas, 32, was going to win the Tour, his namesake posted on his social media account: ‘And now my twitter account is going mental,’ proceeded by ‘So this is what it’s like to be famous’.

Congratulating him on his ‘victory’, social media users wrote: ‘You did Wales proud,’ and another said: ‘Well done chap. Well deserved’.

Fabian Cancellara, the former Swiss professional road bicycle racer, even praised the lecturer for his ‘win’.  

‘Congrats @geraintthomas for the amazing performance the last 3 weeks – well deserved,’ he wrote on Twitter.

But a famous friend of Mr Thomas’, actor Chris Rankin – who played Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter movies – has come to the rescue and pointed out the mistake.

But a famous friend of Mr Thomas’, actor Chris Rankin – who played Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter movies – has come to the rescue and pointed out the mistake

Others were also quick to point out the similarity between Mr Thomas’ situation and that of John Lewis – the US academic who uses the handle @JohnLewis and who is often bombarded with questions for the department store of the same name

‘A public service announcement now follows: My mate @geraintthomas is a very clever and talented man. He is not, however the Tour de France winner. 

‘That’s @GeraintThomas86. it’s like @johnlewis at Christmas for our Ger right now…’ the star said.

Others were also quick to point out the similarity between Mr Thomas’ situation and that of John Lewis – the US academic who uses the handle @JohnLewis and who is often swamped with questions for the department store of the same name.

And like Mr Lewis, who often gets gifts sent to him from John Lewis for the inconvenience, Mr Thomas received acknowledgement a few years back from the Tour de France winner after his tweets were mentioned in his autobiography.  

Many caught on to the amusing situation and posted their support and sympathy for the lecturer.

One said: ‘This is Geraint Thomas. He is not a cyclist, his Twitter has gone mental. #prayforgeraint’

Meanwhile many caught on to the amusing situation and posted their support and sympathy for the lecturer

Thomas raises a glass with Team Sky team-mate Chris Froome during the final stage in Paris

Others commented: ‘With every big sporting story, there’s always an innocent bystander. And so it is for @geraintthomas who is NOT a Tour de France champion.’

‘The love for @GeraintThomas86 on my time line is insane! The love for @geraintthomas even better’ 

‘Congratulations @geraintthomas even if you aren’t the cyclist but congrats for taking his name.’ 

Another added: ‘This is what happens when the good people of Twitter don’t do their research and check the handles they’re tweeting too’ 

Mr Thomas said: ‘I haven’t cycled in about 5 years… but who knows, I may even take to two wheels, and start wearing yellow.’

Geraint Thomas savoured victory in the Tour de France with a glass of champagne on the road in to Paris on Sunday.

Before Alexander Kristoff took victory in the final sprint on the Champs-Elysees, Thomas lined up with his Sky team-mates and posed for pictures while carrying the Welsh flag on the 116km stage from Houilles.

Thomas crossed the line alongside Chris Froome to confirm his final margin of victory at one minute 51 seconds over Team Sunweb’s Tom Dumoulin, with Froome a further 33 seconds back in third place.