By Ian Gordon

Geraint Thomas admits he is still feeling the effects of his Tour de France crash as he prepares to face a tough weekend in the Alps.

The 2018 Tour winner was briefly distanced on the ascent to the summit finish to stage seven – at 249km the longest stage of the race – before recovering to cross the line along with his main rivals.

But Thomas knows he could have a couple of difficult days ahead as he tries to keep in Yellow Jersey contention as he continues his recovering from dislocating his shoulder on stage three on Monday.

“It was quite a big crash,” said Thomas, who sits 13th 5:29 behind race leader Mathieu Van der Poel who – rarely for a wearer of the Yellow Jersey – figured among the breakaway on another crazy day on this year’s race.

“It’s easy to talk myself into it, ‘I’m OK, blah blah blah’ – it takes a lot out of you.

“I didn’t want to go full, 100 per cent. I was still in contact with 200 metres to go. I just tried to pace it. It was OK in the end.

“I’m suffering but hopefully I’ll start to feel better soon. Maybe not in the next two days. For sure I’ll try to stay there or thereabouts.

Thomas’s race looked over on that crash on Monday when he needed medical treatment and he rode Wednesday’s time trial with his right shoulder still heavily strapped.

“It was a tough day and then obviously with the last 80 kilometres with the smaller roads, up and down, it was just racing from behind for position with some tough climbs at the end,” added the 35-year-old.

“It was a big old crash and it was similar to the Giro one when I dislocated my shoulder the first time. I did a good time trial the next day but then lost time the next day. At least this is better than that. I was suffering and it takes a lot out of me, too.

“The last two sprint days weren’t easy. I just tried to pace it today. I only lost contact with about 200m. There’s still a long way to go. I don’t want it to sound like I’m just making excuses and that, it was just a heavy crash.”