Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas snapped up by Quercus

Quercus has signed a book deal with Geraint Thomas, the winner of the 2018 Tour de France.

Thomas, 32, was already a double Olympic gold medallist, Commonwealth champion, Paris-Nice and Criterium du Dauphine winner before winning the Tour de France last month, an achievement that made him the first Welshman and third Briton to ever win the famous 21-stage race.

In The Tour According to G, Thomas (affectionately known as "G") will tell his story describing how he wethered crashes, broken bones and bad luck to eventually reach Tour de France glory in July.

According to Quercus, The Tour According to G is "the inside story of one of the most thrilling and heart-warming tales in sport". The narrative will be peppered with Thomas' "inimitable turn of phrase" and will provide "exclusive insight from the key characters" around him, it said.

Richard Milner bought The Tour According to G from David Luxton of DLA, on behalf of Rocket Sports Management, in a two-book deal. It follows the publication of a previous book by Thomas with Quercus in 2015, a "warts and all insight into the life of a pro cyclist", acquired after a "fierce auction".

Milner said: "Geraint was already a cycling star (and top bloke) when we published the top 10 bestseller The World of Cycling According to G in 2015, so it’s especially thrilling to be sharing his account of attaining sporting superstardom."

Thomas commented: "I’m still in a state of beautiful disbelief about winning the Tour. It’s going to be brilliant to relive all the thrills and adventures, all the drama and the inside stories, the rivalries, alliances and celebrations. I’m going to take people with me from the grand depart in the west of France, across the cobbles in the north, up the Alpine climbs and all the way round to the finish line on the Champs-Elysees, through the training rides and the doubts and the agonies. And the champagne afterwards."

Quercus will publish as a £20 hardcover on 1st November 2018.