Geraint Thomas insists Netcompany-Ineos ‘see the bigger picture’ after Kévin Vauquelin voices TTT frustrations at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Geraint Thomas has addressed the tensions in the Netcompany-Ineos camp after the team time trial at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, insisting the “bigger picture” is a positive one and suggesting the disappointment can “bring the guys together”.

Netcompany-Ineos finished second in Tuesday’s stage 3 TTT and were left with a sense of what might have been, had one of the team’s leaders Oscar Onley not dropped his chain 9km from the finish.

Vauquelin did not hide his frustration, saying “I don’t think that would have been my strategy”.

Geraint Thomas, Netcompany-Ineos‘ Director of Racing, addressed the issue after the stage.

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“It’s good these things go wrong now and you’ve got to be able to put things right quickly and react well together, think about these things and have confidence in each other and be honest with each other,” he said.

“This group is a new group together which is going on this journey to try and win the Tour de France eventually and get the best performance they can.

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“It’s never plain sailing. is it? There’s always ups and downs and that brings the guys together as well. I’m happy as the boys were strong today.

“The call the DSs made on the road was to wait for Oscar, luckily he got his chain on pretty quickly but it means the stage win and the leader’s jersey for Kévin went.

“If you look bigger picture, we’re second and third on GC and this race is going to be won in the mountains by more than a couple of seconds, but it’s tough as everyone wants to win.”

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