i think we're so lucky as athletes just to do what we do. ..and it's special. so what comes next for geraint thomas? obviously the climate is going to be different. i'm looking forward to it. it's a new chapter. when it doesn't rain much, you tend to just avoid riding in the rain. oh, really? yeah. for geraint thomas, this has been home for 13 years. he lives in monaco on the mediterranean so, ger, here we are in monaco.

ithink, you know, this will be my 19th year haven't it? so ijust didn't want to do one year too many and be that grumpy guy that's always just sort of, well, grumpy and negative on the bus. competitive and, yeah, the last few years has still been good, but it's just, i thinkjust the timing i think i'll miss the... ..the sun and stuff here, but, yeah, just be around more and just... yeah. ..a new challenge as well. this will be the last year, then, that fans can see one of france and italy... downhill after this, ger.

looking back, you have so many highlights, gold medals, and then, obviously, the first briton, mm. ..to win the tour de france. i think it's been, since iwas a kid, you know, dreamt yeah. as well, but to achieve that was just nuts, really. ..you know, the decision is made and it's official and stuff, i think you do start to reflect, um... ..because when you're in it, it'sjust one at the time you enjoy it and whatever but i don't think you really sit back and reflect on things, so, yeah, he can reflect on. success has come on the

track and on the road. to win the tour de france. is there one moment that stands out? all over the place, from places like america to... you know, we were on alcatraz and some dude recognised me there. mike laughs like, just random places. and i think that's when it kind of, it went up a level then. the tour de france. a brit would actually win it.

absolutely life—changing. yeah, yeah. time trial specialist, wear the yellow jersey, and dave millar and a few others when i was sort of coming up. of professional riders in the world tour... mm. ..the highest category, it's, um... the sport is in a great place at the moment. ladies and gentlemen, what an honour and a pleasure cheering and applause in cardiff after his tour de france win in 2018. proud to say he's - a cardiff boy and he cried

cyclists out there. it means a lot, i really, you know. brings a lot to wales and cardiff. - to be here when it's all for me, it's, ijust can't get my head round it. and, on the tour, what is it about winning that? because it's the history, isn't it? all the stories going all the stories going back years and years. back years and years. yeah, it's... yeah, it's... the actual feat of achievement the actual feat of achievement to actually do it. to actually do it. yeah, i think, with the tour, yeah, i think, with the tour, it's kind of one of those, it's kind of one of those, you know, the yellowjersey you know, the yellowjersey is just so iconic. is just so iconic. i think you go anywhere i think you go anywhere in the world and a lot in the world and a lot of people will know the yellow jersey. of people will know the yellow jersey. yeah. yeah. it sort of signifies cycling to win it isjust... it sort of signifies cycling almost, the tour de france, and, you know, as you say, the history, and we still race on, ok, the roads have been almost, the tour de france, resurfaced, but they're still the same mountains that we go over as they did 100 years ago, so, yeah, just to be a part of that history and of that history and

to win it isjust... i've still got to pinch myself, to be honest. and even afterwards, you know, being second and third in the tour as well, it's... yeah, it's pretty cool. totally! give us... i mean, how can you sum up to a mere mortal how tough it is? we have no idea what you go through — the pain, people coming out onto the road, every day for three weeks or so. yeah, that support, i think that, you know, with the crowd... yeah. ..those iconic sort of images of the crowd parting for the race, that's the best part of it.

yeah, it's just... you train for, though. i couldn't imagine stepping onto a rugby pitch and just getting battered. it's just what you train for and it's... but it is gruelling. it's three weeks, everyone there is in the best but to be competitive in there and, you know, well, to win it, it was... yeah. it was unreal, yeah. but then you've talked about the dangers as well. yeah. but i've been pretty fortunate, really, in my 19 years. but, yeah, it's. .. you'rejust racing on open roads, so you don't know what's around the corner. the roads are closed but, you know, there's been dogs and cows and sheep and everything on the roads, there can be gravel, and then, obviously,

no, exactly, so... all the time to make it safer, but, at the end of the day, yeah, you're out there in the wild, basically. but... is that what you love about it, though? i think i rememberjust being a kid when i would go descents, as opposed to just riding down caerphilly mountain into cardiff. yeah, it was... yeah, you love all that as well. it's continually developing... yeah. but that is part of the thrill of it as well. what age were you when you

remember thinking this was something that you'd like to do, when you were little? love with the sport. it was like, i really want to do this. fell in love with the sport and that was it. won a few national titles, went to thejunior worlds, my mum wanted me to. i was never going to go. did you ever dream of what you'd achieve? it's incredible, the long list of... you had the dreams but you never really thought it would be reality. even riding the tour for the first time in 2007, to try and win the thing. yeah, fast—forward 11 years and you're stood cheering and applause and then sports

personali , wasn't it? . that was another thing. that was like... that was something i watched religiously, you know? it was the start of christmas, really. you know, all those massive names of british sport and to be winning that and having your name engraved alongside them, that was one of the highlights, for sure. agonising. it's not, but i only want to do the one grand tour now. fik. it's the biggest. it's iconic, isn't it? because i missed it in 2023. i decided to do giro, vuelta. to go back and do it in �*24, i was like, "cor!" you forget how big it is, even though you miss it the one year. so it would be good to go back there and give it one more big hit.

whoever the leader is there, but i think, you know, yeah. and make the most of it. soak up the fans. and mountains over here. it's incredible, the support i've had over the years, i can really, as you say, absorb that and make is there anything you'd say to your 12... if you went back to see your 12—year—old self, just embrace the life. yeah.

it's just enjoyment — just enjoy it. yeah, obviously the weather and the mountains. of winning his first tour. richie porte was one of the best climbers we had a real tight—knit group and we all went on this journey and i was pushing them. to stay ahead of me, i wanted to overtake them, that's what really drove us on in those days, for sure. yeah, yeah, yeah. it's ideal roads, terrain, and we've got a good set—up here as well, with the support from the team.

he was born and grew up. once the tours are over, to go and move back home. yeah. yeah, yeah, yeah, after, like... it'll be 13 years down here now. like, it feels... yeah. it feels like five years, to be honest. i won't be racing my bike any more. back to cardiff. yeah. obviously the climate is going to be different. it's a lot of change, but i'm looking forward to it. it's a new chapter. it's a new... involved in the sport and with the team, maybe, but, yeah, it's just... it's exciting, but it's also... these few months away. certainly.

cheering the national velodrome is named after him and there are murals and other tributes everywhere, what would you say you've missed most, then, well, i was going to say that's the only thing, but obviously it's nice at home as well. but that's the main thing. i thinkjust being around more and not missing, you know, events. you know, birthdays or, like, you know, weddings which is brilliant. finish in cardiff. we'll take you on a night out.

i would love it. i don't know if you want to go| on a night out in cardiff, ben. imagine ben stiller- in chippy lane at 3am, g. is that one avenue you'd like to do more of? yeah, that was kind of the reason why i started doing the podcast initially. something that could maybe carry on or help me but, yeah, i didn't plan on riding as long as i have, really. but, yeah, it's an option. there's plenty of options, which is nice. at the minute, and then, once i do stop, i can but i think having options is always good. so how different... yeah, for sure.

we live is just constantly living out of a suitcase. you're back for maybe five days, then you're away for another five and back. so, yeah, i'll maybe annoy her a bit initially, i need a purpose. even as a junior, you're dreaming of the worlds or, towards something and have these goals, right the way through till now, so i think to just stop and not be working towards anything would be nice for maybe a month, yeah, yeah. and six nations.

i've never been to a six nations came. . cos it's always been the start of the season. so, yeah, doing things like that. like, i love a bit of tennis or golf, you know? yeah. just mix it up a bit. maybe even a bit of train... but the training looks... yeah. ..hard and, for sure, different. see what i fancy, and go from there. pendleton and brendan cole. music plays olympic gold medallist victoria pendleton took

would you suit the sequins? you'd obviously have the fitness and probably the technique, i reckon. because you'lljust make a fool of yourself," and that makes me want to do it. yeah, i don't know. it would be... yeah. just because... to really let myself go and just, you know. i've got the hips for it, ithink, but... oh, yeah. on telly in front of millions? you have to lead such a strict lifestyle with diet and, yeah.

whenever now for the rest of my life, i think that'll hold me back, because normally i'm like, and you overdo it every time. here because we rarely have it. and, yeah, obviously, alcohol is... ..something that's cut out most of the year, so... are you an ale man, or...? brains. brains! not on ale yet, but as the years go by, i'm getting more and more into ale. i like a good glass of wine ora lager ora gin and tonic — whatever.

into cardiff for the final stage of the tour of britain. i know. yeah, it is going to be emotional, i think. yeah. we'll see. maybe a shed a tear or two. imagine the crowds. it would be some way to finish, though, whether that's as the final race. finishing your career back home, home roads, it would be amazing. and will you still... i mean, you'll still go cycling with sara just well, as i said, i still enjoy riding my bike, so i still go i don't know if my wife will really want him to race a bike. i think she's had too much...

with him and stuff. does he try and overtake you and go ahead of you? so he's got the competitive streak? yeah. yeah, yeah, yeah. so... he plays a bit of tennis as well. yeah, yeah. unreal, wouldn't it? i wouldn't mind going to wimbledon, though. 0h, you'll be in the royal box year after next. yeah. it is, yeah. you have to dress up, don't ou? ., ,

but after, hopefully, another fantastic year. cheers, ger. cheers. thanks a lot. every wheel of the way, as they say. brilliant. the weather story a little frustrating of late, saturday was beautiful, light winds, lots of sunshine, a swirl of cloud, the next system that will continue to feed in a lot of heavy rain and gales for a time during sunday.

lingering, a gust of wind, 60—70 mph close to the western isles, some heavy rain, 50—70 millimetres. into the lake district. moving towards wales. cloudier skies, east anglia and south—east england, starting with some sunshine and light winds. the day into the midlands and the south—west. behind it, bright and breezy with scattered showers, the strongest winds continue.

the weather front yet to clear away from south—east england, so it could be a wet start for early birds, but the rain double digits first thing across england and wales. the rain eases, sunny spells and scattered showers tuck in behind. they will continue closest to the low, with the sharp mostly to the far north and west. here again we see the strongest winds, the isobars open up a little across england and wales. perhaps fresher but if you have the sunshine, down at around 8—11 degrees.

but this is where they should be for this time of year. looking further ahead, the jet stream. as we all know, that steers the low pressure. system moves through. of low pressure coming in. as you can see, and top temperatures between 8—11. about where they should be for the latter stages of february. don't forget, if you want more details in your area, the bbc weather app. until then, take care.

live from washington, this is bbc news. israel delays the release

of hundreds of palestinian the vatican says pope francis is in a critical condition hello, i'm ritika gupta. tonight, after israel's prime minister indefinitely postpones benjamin netanyahu said that the inmates won't be freed against what he called "degrading release ceremonies"

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