Gold medallist has 'mix of emotions' for last race

Geraint Thomas was the youngest rider at the Tour de France in 2007, finishing 140th, before later becoming the champion in 2018

An Olympic gold medallist and Tour de France winner said he is feeling "a mix of emotions" leading up to the final race of his career.

Geraint Thomas will compete in the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men, Britain's largest professional cycling event, in September.

The 39-year-old will travel through Suffolk, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire as part of the event before finishing in his hometown of Cardiff in Wales.

"It is kind of a mix of emotions, because obviously, I have raced my bike for 19 years," Thomas told BBC Look East.

This season will be Thomas' last in a sparkling career in which he won two Olympic gold medals, three World Championship titles, numerous road races, and the sport's greatest prize of all - the Tour de France.

"It is kind of strange to think come, well just over a sort of week and a half's time, I will not be a professional athlete anymore," he said.

Thomas (right) said he will continue to be involved with the sport and hopes to inspire people to get cycling

The Tour of Britain is partnered with British Cycling, and Thomas was a part of one of the first intakes of its academy programme in 2004.

He said he will be working with race sponsor Lloyds around the Tour of Britain Men's race to inspire people to enjoy the benefits of cycling because "a part of what I want to go into next really is to help give a bit back".

Thomas said he wants to "try and get kids just on bikes" as "it is not about trying to find the next athlete or the next winner or whatever, it is about getting kids outside and enjoying it".

He added: "I feel like cycling is just such a fun activity to do, you know whether that is with the family or with a local club, it is just to get out there on the bike."

The Tour Of Britain attracts about one million people at the roadside and is the UK's largest free-to-spectate sporting event

Suffolk will play host to two stages, with hundreds of riders beginning the opening stage from Woodbridge to Southwold on 2 September, before the event moves to Stowmarket for the second stage the next day.

The third stage will visit Milton Keynes and central Bedfordshire on 4 September.

Going into the final race of his career, Thomas said he felt "the time is definitely right" and he was "really lucky to call time" on his career, adding that it will be a "full circle" moment finishing in his hometown.

"It has just been an amazing journey really, and one I think will reflect on properly when I stop," he said.