In cycling 's grand tours , Thomas was initially a lead domestique to Chris Froome in his victories . He won the first stage of the 2017 Tour de France , an individual time trial , to become the first Welshman to wear the Tour 's yellow jersey . He later crashed in that race , as well as in the 2017 Giro d'Italia , before winning the 2018 Tour de France . He gained the yellow jersey by winning stage 11 , extended his lead by winning stage 12 , and retained the lead for the remainder of the event . He became the first Welsh and third British rider to win the Tour . In 2018 he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award
2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award
Geraint Thomas