What I know about women: Geraint Thomas says his mum only cares about other people
- Geraint Thomas, 34, who lives in Monaco, won the Tour de France in 2018
- He says his mother who is a nurse clinician, is only concerned for other people
- Cyclist revealed she tried to retire three times, but went back to help with Covid
Cyclist Geraint Thomas, 34, won the Tour de France in 2018, having achieved Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012 for the team pursuit. He also won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2018. He lives in Monaco with his wife Sara, 29, and one-year-old son Macsen.
My mum Hilary, who is 64, is one of the most caring people I know. When I was 14 or 15, I would go out for 100-mile rides with my local club in Cardiff and come home to find a big roast dinner waiting to fuel me up.
As I’ve got older, I’ve noticed that she never moans. She’s only concerned for other people. She’s a nurse clinician and has tried to retire three times, but she went back to help with Covid in March.
Geraint Thomas, 34, (pictured) who lives in Monaco, revealed his mother is anything but selfish and returned to her role as a nurse clinician during the pandemic
She can’t say no — she’s anything but selfish. Both her and my dad work super hard and have been there for all my big career highlights.
When I won the Tour de France they were there with half of Wales, but she doesn’t like watching my races on the TV. I’ve had a few tumbles in the past so she tends to just ask my dad if I was OK at the end. She’s similar to my wife Sara in that way. When we met in 2008, Sara knew nothing about cycling. But now every year, before the start of the Tour, she gives my hair a little trim. It’s a mess anyway, so it doesn’t matter if she messes it up.
She’s the last person I text before every stage and in 2018, she gave me a little wishbone for good luck. I tied it to the computer on my bike handlebars and that year I won the Tour. It’s still on my bike now.
Sara also surprised me by travelling to France on the day I found out I had won. I messaged her before the stage and she said, ‘I’m going to walk the dog’, then at the end I saw her waiting at the finish line.
Sara speaks Welsh fluently. I’d love to learn once I stop racing. My son will go to a Welsh school, so I don’t want him to be able to slag me off when I’m around!
Mountains According to G (£16.99, Quercus) is out in hardback on October 29.