Cummings: Even back at Barloworld I thought Thomas could win the Tour de France
The sandwich isle at an ASDA supermarket isn't your typical location for picking out future Tour de France winners but that's where Stephen Cummings first caught sight of Geraint Thomas when the two riders were part of the track cycling programme at British Cycling. The pair would go on to win gold as part of the British Olympic team pursuit squad in Beijing 2008, then share a flat in Italy and ride for Barloworld, and eventually Team Sky, before Cummings would leave for BMC Racing in 2012.
Cummings, who admits to not being easily impressed, told Cyclingnews that Thomas' talent was evident from an early stage and that he believed the Welshman could go on and win a Tour de France – a feat that he achieved last Sunday in Paris.
"The first time we met was in an ASDA, in Manchester. It was the one by the velodrome because back in the day, that was our nutrition. It was lunch down at ASDA. I remember that he was walking around with Matt Brammeier, and I knew Matt back then. I think they were juniors, and Geraint was a really quiet but a nice guy," Cummings says.
"But back then a lot of riders were coming and going but straight away Geraint stood out as one of the good ones. I was never easily impressed but he was really good. At that point in my career, I was quite intense but he was the total opposite. He had this natural ability and was laid back, but he's always been like that. He knows what he wants but at the same time he's easygoing enough to adapt to things around him."
Thomas signed for the Italian Pro Continental team Barloworld in 2007, with Cummings joining a year later from Discovery. They would eventually sign for Dave Brailsford's Team Sky at end of 2009 – along with a certain Chris Froome – but during their years on the Italian squad Cummings and Thomas – despite their differing personalities - became firm friends.
"At Barloworld, he was a bit heavier because he was going back and forth with the track, but he was still super strong whenever the team needed him to lead someone out," says Cummings.
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