Geraint Thomas ought to be on the podium at the end of this year’s Tour de France, but it will be Team Sky who decide on which step he will be standing.
That is the view of Welsh professional cyclist Gruff Lewis, who will be part of the Seiclo commentary team bringing live coverage and highlights from every day of this year’s Tour on S4C, starting on Saturday 7 July.
Lewis, who represents Ribble Pro Cycling, said: “If you showed me a photo of the podium on the Champs-Élysées at the end of the race, I would not be surprised at all to see Geraint standing on it, but for him to win, the tables will need to turn at Team Sky.
“Chris Froome would have to work for Geraint, and that hasn’t happened before.
“Team Sky say they are going to play both options for the general classification, but if they attack each other in the mountains, that would work in the favour of the other teams.
“I would like to see Geraint lead. By winning the Critérium du Dauphiné, he showed that he is as strong as Froome at the moment. He is flying.”
After a drugs test showed an adverse reading of Salbutamol, a drug which counteracts asthma, the participation of four-time champion Froome in this year’s race was shrouded in controversy.
The serial Tour winner, 33, was under investigation after more than the allowed level of the legal asthma drug was found in his urine.
But the anti-doping case against Froome was dropped on Monday when cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, announced they had closed proceedings.
Froome has since admitted that he expects some form of “confrontation” out on the road and Lewis believes Froome will be in for a hostile reception from the crowds lining the roads.
“There is a cloud hanging over Team Sky. General Manager David Brailsford has had a hard time in the press over the past few months and Chris got some stick in the Giro d’Italia, with spectators dressing up as doctors and carrying a giant inhaler.
“I think the fans on the mountains will give the team a tough time. Things could get quite nasty for the team, including Geraint and Luke Rowe, although I hope they don’t.
“Froome has maintained his innocence all along so I’m sure he will just get on with it regardless.”
With iconic climbs such as Alpe d’Huez and Col du Tourmalet returning to this year’s race route, there will be no shortage of flashpoints.
“The team trial at Stage 3 will be important and everyone will have to pull their weight,” added Lewis, who’s from Aberystwyth.
“Stage 9, to Roubaix, will have lots of cobbles, so that will be interesting. The penultimate stage, stage 20, is a long individual time trial and that could work to Froome’s advantage.
“The third week is where the race is won and lost and for those who raced in the Giro, this could be where their tiredness will show.
“We’ll see. It’s a fantastic race and one big game of chess.”
Joining Gruff in the commentary box will be Wyn Gruffudd, John Hardy, Dewi Owen and brothers Rheinallt and Peredur ap Gwynedd, with Rhodri Gomer presenting the coverage.
Seiclo: Le Tour de France
Live coverage and highlights
Starts Saturday, 7 July, 2.00 and 10.00, S4C
Available to watch on-demand at s4c.cymru, iPlayer and other platforms
A Sunset+Vine Cymru and Tinopolis co-production for S4C.