Geraint Thomas claimed third place at the Gent-Wevelgem sprint classic in Belgium on Sunday despite suffering a crash . The Welshman 's spill came with 58 kilometres to go when he was blown off the road in wet and windy conditions in Flanders , but the Team Sky rider bravely fought back to claim a podium place . Katusha 's Luca Paolini took the title with Niki Terpstra of Etixx-Quick-Step finishing runner-up . Geraint Thomas of Team Sky reacts on the podium after the Gent-Wevelgem sprint classic . Commonwealth Games champion Thomas , who took victory in E3 Harelbeke on Friday , said on www.teamsky.com : 'Today it was just on all day - stress and full gas . ' I 'm happy to be on the podium again . Obviously it would have been nice to go for the win but it 's hard when you 're coming into the final and everyone 's attacking . You ca n't really go with everything and some people do n't want to pull as much . On his crash , Thomas added : 'The grass was softer than the tarmac ! It was unbelievable . The gusts were incredible . It was hard enough just trying to stay on the bike . Fortunately it was all okay in the end . ' I 'll rest up now . Have a good massage , eat well , stay in bed and put my feet up until Sunday . ' Sir Bradley Wiggins was included in the Team Sky line-up for the 239-kilometre one-day event but withdrew during the race . Niki Terpstra of team Etixx-Quick Step , Luca Paolini of team Katusha and Thomas of Team Sky on podium .
Geraint Thomas finished third in the Gent-Wevelgem sprint classic . The Team Sky rider had a nasty fall with 58 kilometres to go . Hide Caption