Cycling: Sky rider to skip next year's Tour

British rider Geraint Thomas says he will skip next year's Tour de France to preserve his fitness for the Olympics in London. Thomas, who rides for British-based Team Sky, spent the first seven stages of this year's Tour in the white jersey – given to the best young rider in the field.

The 25-year-old told the BBC: "The Olympics is the main goal for me so I don't want to jeopardise that in any way... Riding the Tour is a bit more of a gamble."

The 2012 Tour will finish less than two weeks before qualifying for Olympic track events begins.