Benjamin Thomas, an Olympic champion on track First polka dot jersey of the Grande Boucle

Olympic omnium champion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Benjamin Thomas is the first carrier of the 112nd Tour de France climber jersey.

We hadn't seen him coming. While he is celebrating his 50th anniversary, the polka dot jersey of the best climber of the Tour de France begins this anniversary edition on the shoulders of an unexpected profile: Benjamin Thomas, crowned pistard Olympic champion of Omnium last summer at the Paris Games. “It's a wink, a beautiful symbol, and it shows that when we are Olympic champion we are able to do everything”smiled Cédric Vasseur, general manager of Cofidis, at the bus of his team at the arrival of the 1st stage of the Tour de France, Saturday July 5.

The boss of the northern team, whose race service is in Bondues, less than 10 km from the departure of this first stage, was only worried about the state of health of his runner, after a fall at the top of Mount Cassel. “He is destabilized on the cobblestones, he takes Matteo Vercher with him. I hope he is not too touched, that he will be able to leave tomorrow with the polka dot” jersey “confided Cédric Vasseur, concerned. But Benjamin Thomas, polka dot jersey on his shoulders, quickly reassured him from a distance: “I apologized to Mattéo, I'm fine. I'm going to be rushed at 2-3 days but it's going to go.”

“By launching the bike, he lost control of the front wheel. We fell together, there is no worries, it's the race. It could have been me”defused Matteo Vercher, a beautiful player. “However, I know Mount Cassel well. But I launched the sprint a little too far and it was tense. On the bike throw I am unbalanced by the cobblestones. The cobblestones are not terrible to fall”smiled Benjamin Thomas, surprising first pea jersey of this 2025 Tour de France. A tunic not frankly awaited on the shoulders of this specialist in the track.

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But as a local team, the Cofidis wanted “Being a protagonist of the Tour today”admits Cédric Vasseur. “It was important to start well in this Tour de France, not to miss the breakaway. Then, when you are in front and that you can take the polka dot jersey, you fight to have it. Benjamin did it very well on the first two climbs“, Rejoiced the manager. Two small points in the classification of the mountain were thus enough for their happiness.

“It is a pleasure to find the roads of the Tour de France. The Olympic Games were really exceptional, an incredible experience and now I hope to shine on the most beautiful race in the world.”

Benjamin Thomas

to the presentation of the runners

“It's a great honor”admitted the first pea jersey of the 112nd edition of the Tour, which marks the 50th anniversary of this tunic very appreciated by the French public. Start winner on the Giro 2024, Olympic and world champion of Omnium in track cycling, Occitan was keen to shine in its adoptive north. “The heart has been in the north for several years. We hope to live an exceptional tour. These first days which will be super important for the whole team. We are ready to give everything“, He promised to the Lille public on Thursday during the presentation of the teams.

If he had declared to aim for the arrival in Carcassonne, near his home, Benjamin Thomas therefore pleased his team and his sponsor. “We were at the headquarters of Cofidis before departure, we felt the fervor in the company. We felt a pressure but a good pressure. And it worked, told, on arrival, the training pistard, It is a huge satisfaction. We had a lot of people behind us here in Lille. We wanted to do something on this stage. Having this polka dot jersey rewards everyone's work. “

“On the Tour, there is not much room to shine. We had this opportunity to take the polka dot jersey from the first day, we are very happy. It launches a good dynamic to get a step.”

Benjamin Thomas, first carrier of the pea jersey of the 2025 Tour

In Franceinfo: Sport

Surprised polka dot jerse, Benjamin Thomas will now do everything to keep it, while an accidental stage is already looming on Sunday between Lauwin-Planque and Boulogne-sur-Mer. “I will study the course, see where the points are distributed, do mathematics to try to keep it. It may be difficult in the last twenty kilometers”, However, announces the first polka dot jersey of this Tour de France. Who may no longer be on Sunday evening, but whatever: Benjamin Thomas can hang this distinctive jersey at home, next to his five rainbow jerseys of world champion on track.