Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas has chosen to skip his national time trial and road race to focus on his recovery ahead of the Tour de France, after he finished second in a tough Tour de Suisse. 

“Sadly, the call has been made to not compete at the Nationals this week,” Thomas wrote on his Facebook page. “It was a really difficult decision to make with the team, but it was felt that resting at home this week would be best. After such an intense week at the Tour de Suisse, both mentally and physically."

“I'll miss racing at the Nationals, I love racing them. Winning in 2010, is still one of my proudest moments. To wear the British champs jersey all year was a massive honour. Good luck to the rest of the team sky boys!”

Thomas has shown great improvements this year, winning the Volta ao Algarve, taking Sky’s first ever cobbled WorldTour win at E3 Harelebeke and then taking second in Suisse, including making it to the top of the 10km, 10% average HC climb to the Rettenbach glacier in the first GC group, with only Thibaut Pinot ahead of him, showing just how strong he will be in France.