Geraint Thomas hopes that Tour de France can go ahead despite shadow of coronavirus

The 2018 winner believes his peak years are still ahead of him as he prepares for gruelling charity ride on indoor training bike to raise money for the NHS

Colombia's Egan Bernal celebrates in Paris after winning the Tour de France on July 28, 2019. AFP

Colombia's Egan Bernal, second right, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, passes by the Louvre in Paris on July 28, 2019. AFP

Cyclists ride dwon the Champs Elysees avenue with the Arc de Triomphe in background. AFP

The peloton ride down the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 28, 2019. AFP

Colombia's Egan Bernal, left, of Team Ineos passes by the Louvre in Paris during the final stage on July 28, 2019. AFP

Cyclists rise past the Eiffel Tower during the final stage on July 28, 2019. AFP

The peloton rides through the courtyard of the Louvre museum on July 28, 2019. AFP

Colombia's Egan Bernal, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey and cyclists ride down the Champs Elysees avenue next to the Arc de Triomphe on July 28, 2019. AFP

Colombians celebrate as they watch the Tour de France in Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Colombia on July 27, 2019. Egan Bernal was poised to become Colombia's first Tour de France winner and the youngest of any nationality since 1909. AFP

Colombia's Egan Bernal celebrates on the podium after the 20th stage between Albertville and Val Thorens, in Val Thorens, on July 27, 2019. AFP

Fans cheer as France's Romain Bardet, left, and Michael Woods of Canada during the 18th stage between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. AFP

The peloton rides throught the Casse Deserte, to the Col de l'Izoard during the 18th stage between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. AFP

Colombia's Nairo Quintana celebrates after winning the 18th stage on July 25, 2019. AFP

Colombia's Nairo Quintana celebrates after winning the 18th stage, on July 25, 2019. AFP

French rider Julian Alaphilippe, centre, during the 18th stage on July 25, 2019. AFP

The peleton during the 18th stage between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. AFP

The peleton passes by the Lac de Serre-Poncon during the 18th stage on July 25, 2019. AFP

Fans cheer the peleton during the 16th stage on July 23, 2019. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, crosses the Pont du Gard during the 16th stage on July 23, 2019. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe celebrates on the podium after the 15th stage between Limoux and Foix Prat d'Albis, on July 21, 2019. AFP

Fans cheer Great Britain's Simon Yates during the 15th stage between Limoux and Foix Prat d'Albis, on July 21, 2019. AFP

Fans during the 14th stage between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe celebrates after the 14th stage between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. AFP

Left to right: Belgium's Thomas De Gendt, Stephane Rossetto of France and France's Lilian Calmejane during the 11th stage between Albi and Toulouse, on July 17, 2019. AFP

France's Thibaut Pinot celebrates after winning the 14th stage between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the 14th stage between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. AFP

Argentina's Maximiliano Richeze rides past fans during the 13th stage - a 27.2km individual time-trial in Pau, on July 19, 2019. AFP

Left to right: Germany's Nikias Arndt, Pierre-Luc Perichon of France, Belgium's Tiesj Benoot and Andrea Pasqualon of Italy during the 12th stage between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, on July 18, 2019. AFP

The peleton rides during the 11th stage between Albi and Toulouse, on July 17, 2019. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the 10th stage between Saint-Flour and Albi, on July 15, 2019. AFP

The peleton during the 9th stage between Saint-Etienne and Brioude in Saint-Etienne, eastern France, on July 14, 2019. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe celebrates after the 9th stage between Saint-Etienne and Brioude, in Brioude, eastern France, on July 14, 2019. AFP

Fans cheer the riders in the Mur d'Aurec-sur-Loire during the 9th stage Saint-Etienne and Brioude, on July 14, 2019. AFP

Geraint Thomas is crossing his fingers that the Tour de France can go ahead at some point in 2020 as he looks to cash in on what he believes are his peak years.

Team Ineos rider Thomas won the general classification in 2018 and believes he is in good shape to go for a second yellow jersey.

Thomas' Ineos teammate Egan Bernal triumphed last year, becoming the first Colombian winner in the process.

The famous race, set to take place between June 27 and July 19, has yet to be postponed or cancelled but with sporting events all over the world impacted its chances of surviving as scheduled appear remote.

Thomas appreciates the Tour has to take its place in the greater scheme of things – and has announced his own gruelling charity ride in support of the NHS – but is still crossing his fingers for the event.

"I think I'm in my prime at the moment," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "My road career started a bit later than most because I was racing on the track and in the Olympics.

"It feels like these are my best years. That's a bit of a shame at the moment but there's a lot of serious things which need to take precedence over that.

"It is a shame but hopefully it can go ahead. Obviously there are bigger things that need to be sorted out first but as soon as it's safe and ready to go ahead we'd love it to happen. I'm praying and hoping it goes ahead at some point.

"It's the pinnacle of the sport, it's what it's all about. I'm not sure when but hopefully it goes ahead this year."

Thomas, meanwhile, has announced he will undertake three 12-hour 'shifts' on his indoor training bike in a fundraising effort for the NHS starting on April 15.

"I wanted to help out in any small way I could. All I know is bike riding so I thought I'd mirror an NHS worker's shifts," he said in a Twitter video encouraging people to join him as well as contributing money.

"I'm going be here in my garage, on Zwift, and I'm going to do three back-to-back 12-hour shifts starting on Wednesday and finishing on Friday evening. All the money is going to the NHS.

"I'm a little nervous because I haven't ridden that long in a day before so I'm going to be pretty sore by the end of day one, let alone day three."