EP2: Geraint Thomas, Conquering the Tour de France Mecca, Alpe d'Huez and Winning in 2018

In 2018 Geraint Thomas became just the third Briton to win the Tour de France, joining Sir Brad in that elite group. In doing so he became the first man ever to win a stage up the iconic 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez whilst wearing the yellow jersey. Joining Sir Brad and Graham in the café for this episode, Geraint reveals how he and Team Sky leader, Chris Froome, wrangled over the battle for yellow as he rode for history on the Alpe and tells of another occasion on the climb, “a memory I’ll never forget,” when he clung to the coattails of two of the sport’s all time greats as they battled for supremacy. And if you’re wondering what it’s like to ride the Tour de France with a broken pelvis then Geraint can tell you… Hit FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode and join the Café Aficionado community on social. ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ | Strava Add your favourite cycle café stop to the ⁠Café Aficionado map Contact us: ⁠[email protected]⁠  Credits Presented by⁠ Sir Bradley Wiggins⁠ and Graham Willgoss Guest: Geraint Thomas Researcher: Luca Unwin Production Manager: Ross Aitken Social Video Producer: Rosie Mansfield YouTube Editor: Theo Stocklin Produced and Edited by: Toby Gilles Executive Producers: Faye Stewart, Ashley Unwin & Dominic de Terville Recorded at: London Broadcast Studio Sir Bradley Wiggins' Café Aficionado is an Atomized Studios production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brad's early cycling hero was Tom Simpson. In the 1960s Tom’s name was as well-known to the British public as Bradley was in 2012, having become the first - and still only - Briton to win the Tour of Flanders, aged just 23. Tom was hugely popular, and was even voted Sports Personality of the Year at a time when cycling needed a big name to boost its profile in the UK. Brad and Tom are interlinked in ways you wouldn’t think possible. From family connections, to their status as British national sporting heroes through their pioneering achievements on two wheels.  In this episode, Brad and Graham are joined by Tom's nephew, cycling journalist, photographer and publisher Chris Sidwells, to celebrate Tom's career and discuss the tragic events that led to his death just one kilometre from the summit of the brutal climb of Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France. Brad reveals how, without Tom, he may never have become a cyclist at all and shares how he paid special tribute to him when he raced the stage in 2009.  And Brad and Chris debate which cyclist's panache would see them added to the profile of our Ultimate Tour Rider. Find out more about The Tom Simpson Cycling Festival Hit FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode and join the Café Aficionado community on social. ⁠Instagram⁠ | TikTok⁠ | ⁠YouTube Add your favourite cycle café stop to the Café Aficionado map Contact us: [email protected]  Credits Presented by⁠ Sir Bradley Wiggins⁠ and Graham Willgoss Guest: Chris Sidwells Researcher: Luca Unwin Production Manager: Ross Aitken Social Video Producer: Rosie Mansfield YouTube Editor: Theo Stocklin Produced and Edited by: Toby Gilles Executive Producers: Faye Stewart, Ashley Unwin & Dominic de Terville Recorded at: London Broadcast Studio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices