Geraint Thomas eyeing up risks for 2017 rewards

The 30-year-old has had to make do with a supporting role throughout much of his career, helping Chris Froome become a dominant force in the Tour de France, winning three titles in four years.

It's a role which has come largely through Thomas' adaptability, able to cope with whatever surfaces are thrown at him, something which has led to him becoming a key cog in the machine.

But with a potentially defining 2017 to come, Thomas, who won two stages in the 2016 Tour de France, is ready to hit top spot, though he concedes it's a decision that will take time to work out, and he's determined not to rush into any rash move.

"With race schedules, that's something that I've been chatting about with the coach, Tim Kerrison, and it's something that we'll go through properly when I'm at training camp next week," he said.

"After that we'll come up with a plan because at the moment it's all up in the air and there are so many options. I just need to figure out what I want to do and it obviously needs to fit in with the team.

"If I went to the Giro at 100 per cent it's a whole different ball game. I could start by riding for GC (general classification) and if that didn't work then I could work for someone like Mikel Landa, but still ride for stages. It’s a bit risky because it’s an entirely different programme." Sportsbeat 2016