Thomas to 'make do' with watching 2027 Tour de France

Geraint Thomas was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to cycling

Geraint Thomas admits he is ready for a "big change" as he prepares to watch the 2027 Tour de France as a spectator.

The Welshman, 38, announced in February that he would retire at the end of this season.

But 2018 winner Thomas says he expects to feel the urge to get back on his bicycle when watching the 2027 Tour - which begins in Britain, with a stage to be held in his native Wales.

"I'm not sure how I'll feel about it, I was watching some racing last week and I was itching to get out there and race, so it's going to be different," he told BBC Wales Today.

"It's definitely a big change, but it'll certainly be less effort that's for sure."

On his temptation to delay his retirement until the 2027 Tour, Thomas said: "I was chatting to the family about it, but 41 is pretty old.

"I'll have to make do with watching it on the side of the road."

The men's and women's Tour de France will both begin in Britain in 2027, with Edinburgh to stage the men's Grand Depart.

Route details and the Grand Depart for the Tour de France Femmes will be announced in the autumn.

And Thomas hopes Welsh cycling will benefit from hosting part of the Tour.

"It'll just be so big, so massive for the whole country," he added.

"I heard the rumours, but then when I heard it was actually confirmed that it was going to happen, I was like, 'wow, maybe I could keep racing for another two years just to try and get there'.

"But, yeah, no chance of that really.

"It will be massive for Wales, massive for the UK in general, starting up in Scotland, and then obviously in England, and a stage finishing in Wales is just amazing.

"Wales has so much to offer. You don't need super hard mountains to make it entertaining racing, and Wales definitely has a lot of hard roads.

"In south Wales you can easily do quite a few climbs and then finish in Cardiff. Or in north Wales, there's plenty of tough terrain as well and beautiful landscapes.

"It'll just be great to showcase Wales and how beautiful it is."

Dani Rowe, a gold medallist in the team pursuit at the London Olympics in 2012, hopes riders can fully enjoy the "iconic climbs" Wales has to offer.

"For me, living in Cardiff, home roads would be amazing," she said.

"The Tour of Britain has visited south Wales before on many occasions. They've gone up Caerphilly Mountain and that's always such a spectacle, it brings so many fans out on the side of the road.

"But there are so many iconic climbs, the Tumble in Abergavenny is always a great one, I've had great memories there.

"There are climbs more towards the Valleys that I love riding as part of my training route.

"But I just think to have the Tour de France come to Wales is huge for the country."