Geraint Thomas backed the decision by race organisers to abandon stage three of Paris-Nice on safety grounds.

The day’s action was stopped just 65 miles into the stage due to snow which saw temperatures plummet to minus five degrees.

Thomas, 29, tweeted a picture of the conditions saying: “Huge shame that the stage was cancelled. But there’s no way we can race safely through this!”

The Cardiff-born rider would have been looking to stake his claim to overall victory on Tuesday which was due to see the first summit finish of the eight-day race.

Thomas will resume Wednesday’s fourth stage still in fifth place overall after times on the abandoned stage were scrubbed.

The Team Sky hope is 19 seconds behind Michael Matthews of Australia.

But team-mate and fellow Welshman Luke Rowe questioned the delay before organisers made the decision.

Rowe tweeted: “Stage at Paris Nice cancelled. Just confused as why it took so long for them to make that decision, we knew all day it was snowing up there!”
endig