ゲラント・トーマス、今季限りで引退 １８年のツール王者

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】自転車ロードレースのツール・ド・フランスで２０１８年に総合優勝したゲラント・トーマス（英国）が、今季限りでの現役引退を発表した。（写真は、２０１８年のツール・ド・フランスで総合優勝を果たし、ウェールズ国旗を手に喜ぶゲラント・トーマス〈中央〉）
　３８歳のトーマスは、２００８年北京五輪と１２年ロンドン五輪の男子団体追い抜きで２大会連続の金メダルを獲得し、世界選手権の同種目でも３度の優勝を経験した。
　だが、中でも大切なのは１８年のツール・ド・フランス優勝だとし、英ＢＢＣに対して「ツールが自分の人生を変えた。どこへ行っても認識されるようになった」と話した。
　今季もツールに再び挑戦し、所属するイネオス・グレナディアーズでサポート役を務める。「ステージ勝利を狙うかもしれないが、とにかくレースを楽しみたい」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/02/18-19:56）

Former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will retire at the end of this season, the 38-year-old Welsh cycling star announced on Monday.
Thought it was time we made it official. Yes, this will be my last year in the peloton, the Ineos rider posted on X.
It's not been a bad run eh? added the decorated all-rounder who won Olympic team pursuit golds in 2008 and 2012 and three world titles, also in team pursuit.
But it was his 2018 triumph in cycling's greatest race, the Tour de France, that he particularly cherishes.
Beijing was massive, my first Olympics and winning gold there, Thomas told the BBC.
But the Tour's what changed my life, being recognised all over the place.
I was in Alcatraz and some dude recognised me. I think that's when you know it went up a level.
The yellow jersey is iconic. You go anywhere in the world and people will know the yellow jersey, how it signifies cycling and its history. So to be a part of that history and to win it, I just pinch myself, he added.
Thomas, who came third in last year's Giro d'Italia, will tackle the Tour again this year in a supporting role for his British team, hoping to maybe try to win a stage but just enjoy the race.
Asked why he has chosen to retire now when he is still firing on all cylinders, he replied: This is my 19th year as a professional and I didn't want to do one year too many and be the grumpy guy in the team.