As a lean-looking Geoff Thomas offers his reflections against the stunning backdrop of the Alps, it’s hard to believe he’ll celebrate his 61st birthday next month.
Thomas, a former FA Cup final captain with Crystal Palace and capped nine times by England, has just cycled past the fashionable ski resort of Courchevel as part a steep climb on the 18th stage of his seventh Tour de France.
It is a remarkable feat for anyone let alone a cancer survivor with two arthritic knees, a legacy of his earlier professional career.