News about Geraint Thomas

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed that he and his Ineos staff will not turn Manchester United backwards by investing money on football's top stars. Ratcliffe's £1.3 billion minority takeover of the club has seen him, as well as Sir Dave Brailsford, take over football operations at Old Trafford and recruitment is a subject that the club is keen to address. Eyebrows have been raised as a result of the large sums invested on players like Casemiro (£70 million) and Antony (£86 million) and Ratcliffe's (£86 million) and Ratcliffe are keen to take a new tactic in order to restore the team's reign.

ALEX BYWATER: On Thursday morning, Wales' World Cup rookies Christ Tshiunza and Mason Grady could barely remember where they were standing at a top-table press conference in Stade de Nice. Both players are in their first senior global showpiece and have come a long way in a short time, but Tshiunza, the Exeter forward, has a special affinity. The 21-year-old was born in Kinshasa, Congo's capital, only after moving to Wales in 2010 where he and his French-speaking relatives shared a one-bedroom apartment. He is now in France for his first World Cup appearance.

Geraint Thomas, the cycling legend, will lead a group of former Wales rugby internationals on a charity bike ride to the World Cup in September to raise money for charity Head for Change. Shane Williams, Ryan Jones, and Alix Popham, as well as former All Black Carl Hayman, will travel with Thomas from Richmond to Lyon. The party will then watch Wales' showpiece World Cup pool fixture with Eddie Jones of Australia on arrival in Lyon.

This week, the Tour de France is expected to return, with Jonas Vingegaard attempting to correctly conserve his yellow shirt. Last year, Vingegaard came in third place behind Tadej Pogacar in overall standings, with 2018 champion Geraint Thomas leading the way. Mark Cavendish, a British cyclist, will be looking to smash the record for the most stage victories this year, and is level with Belgian legend Eddy Merckx with 34 points.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company Ineos threw their hat into the competition to bid for Manchester United on Tuesday evening, sparking a general feeling of excitement among Red Devils supporters. Ratcliffe is expected to face rivalry from the United States, Asia, and the Middle East after the Glazer family announced their willingness to leave United after 17 years in office at Old Trafford, but he is the first bidder to expressly declare his interest in the club. Given that the 70-year-old is worth an estimated £13.3 billion and is regarded as Britain's richest man and a fan of the club, the positive reaction from United fans was understandable.

Outside Clwb Ifor Bach, the clocks have just hit 9 a.m., and a line is snaking. Some call it the Welsh Club. This location, near Cardiff Castle, has opened a second home to Wales football fans. They go to play on these three floors. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on Tehran on Friday to watch their clash with Iran: the home front of a protest that carried Rob Page's side to Qatar. All around are relics of Wales' long road back to the World Cup. Stickers on the urinals announce the 'Spirit of '58'.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT THE ALEXANDER STADIUM: In the end, all the splashing and sprinting, flipping, and lifting had occurred, there was badminton. All forms of sports were present on the 11th day of sport, from the sublime to the bizarre - but the last blow was by Malaysian's Pearly Tan at 2.30 p.m. An outstanding Commonwealth Games, to all bar the most curmudgeonly. To take them for what they are, whether it is found in Ghanaian doormen or the fall and ascension of giants like Adam Peaty.

DAVID COVERDALE IN BIRMINGHAM: Former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas couldn't duplicate his title-winning success as he was forced to settle for bronze in the Commonwealth Games road race. In the meantime, England captured another gold medal in the doubles table tennis tournament.