▁Thomas ▁had ▁an ▁early ▁win ▁on ▁the ▁road ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Paris – R ou ba ix ▁Juni ors ▁and ▁later ▁had ▁a ▁senior ▁victory ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁British ▁National ▁Road ▁Race ▁Championships . ▁Le aving ▁track ▁cy cling ▁to ▁focus ▁sole ly ▁on ▁the ▁road , ▁he ▁subsequently ▁found ▁success ▁in ▁both ▁one - day / class ic ▁races ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁Commonwealth ▁Games ▁road ▁race ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁E 3 ▁H arel be ke , ▁and ▁in ▁one ▁week ▁stage ▁races , ▁most ▁not ably ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁Paris – N ice , ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁Tour ▁of ▁the ▁Al ps ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁Crit éri um ▁du ▁D au ph iné . ▁ ▁In ▁cy cling ' s ▁grand ▁t ours , ▁Thomas ▁was ▁initially ▁a ▁lead ▁dom est ique ▁to ▁Chris ▁Fro ome ▁in ▁his ▁vict ories . ▁He ▁won ▁the ▁first ▁stage ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁Tour ▁de ▁France , ▁an ▁individual ▁time ▁trial , ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁first ▁Wel sh man ▁to ▁wear ▁the ▁Tour ' s ▁yellow ▁j er sey . ▁He ▁later ▁crash ed ▁in ▁that ▁race , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁G iro ▁d ' Italia , ▁before ▁winning ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁Tour ▁de ▁France . ▁He ▁gained ▁the ▁yellow ▁j er sey ▁by