British road race champion Geraint Thomas is appealing for more people to donate blood, saying that the practice is something which saved his life six years ago.
Thomas was due to visit the Welsh Blood Service today to raise awareness of the issue, and used his own history as an illustration of the importance of helping others in this way.
He referred to a bad crash he had in Australia in 2005, which left him in a very serious condition. “We were riding along the road when the guy in front of me clipped some metal debris. It flicked up into my front wheel stopping me dead,” he told Wales Online. “I fell forwards, landing on my handle bars, which ruptured my spleen.”
The organ had to be removed in emergency surgery, and he received two blood transfusions. “From what I’ve been told, it was touch and go – without the blood transfusions I wouldn’t be here now. Giving blood is definitely something that I’d like to help promote.
“Because I’ve had a blood transfusion, I can’t donate but I know about the work that’s going on in Wales and I want to help support them and get the message out.”
Thomas has developed into one of the most promising young riders in the sport, netting second on the Tour de France stage over the cobbles last year and more recently netting second in the Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders.
His Paris-Roubaix bid was derailed yesterday through crashes and punctures, but he has been tipped as someone who can fight for the victory in future years.