La Vuelta 2020: Geraint Thomas backs Chris Froome protest as the way to stop ‘suits’ running cycling

ByTom Bennett

Updated 31/10/2020 at 18:52 GMT

Geraint Thomas says that the rider protest ahead of Stage 11 of La Vuelta is what the sport needs to give the riders a stronger voice. The Ineos Grenadiers and Chris Froome led the appeal over a decision to retrospectively change the time gaps rule for Stage 10, a move that saw Richard Carapaz lose the leader’s jersey to Primoz Roglic.

Professional cyclists will not have a say in the sport’s big decisions unless they follow the example of Chris Froome and make a stand, says Ineos team-mate Geraint Thomas.

The Welshman was talking after Froome acted as patron of the peloton, appealing against the rule change made retrospectively after Friday’s Stage 10 on time gaps, which saw the lead of the race change hands and a number of riders lose seconds in the general classification.

The root of the riders' complaints is that the time gaps awarded on the stage were judged on different criteria from what race organisers had initially suggested.

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At least ten teams backed the appeal and joined forces through the CPA (the riders’ union) to make a stand and delay the start of Stage 11.

Vuelta's controversial time gap decision has discredited a key rule in cycling - The Breakaway

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• UCI reject Froome and Ineos appeal as Vuelta peloton fume over ‘unfair’ rule change

And Thomas says that is exactly the sort of thing that the sport needs if the riders are to wrestle any power away from the ‘suits’ who make the big decisions.

“Great to see the peloton sticking together at the Vuelta. Well, apart from the usual suspects,” Thomas said.

“My point is, pro cycling is nothing without the riders. Yet all the big decisions are made by suits and we are the last to know.

“The main reason we have no say is because we don’t ever stick together as a peloton.”

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