'I had the legs to be there': Geraint Thomas laments missed opportunity to take time in Giro crosswinds
Geraint Thomas says a bit of bad positioning cost him as Quick-Step split the bunch in the finale of Giro d'Italia stage three
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas regrets being in the wrong place when the Giro d'Italia's stage three exploded en route to Cagliari today. He says that he missed a chance to gain 10 seconds on his rivals.
A group of around 10 powered free with 10 kilometres remaining. Thomas, who had been at the front, lost position just before the move went and missed a chance to gain precious time.
>>> Five talking points from stage three of the Giro d’Italia
Thomas warmed down on his bike and climbed off to explain to reporters waiting by the Sky’s black bus.
"Yeah, it was only 10 seconds in the end, and come the mountains 10 seconds is nothing, but it would've been good for the morale to be there," Thomas said.
"I had the legs to be there, but it was a bit of just missing it going into the roundabout."
Most of team Quick-Step surged free with eventual stage winner and new race leader Fernando Gaviria. Thomas rode at the front in chase with his team, but the situation settled given no-one in the front group posed a major overall threat for the next three weeks.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It could've been worse, it was only Bob Jungels up there on the GC. Still it's a bit, you always want to be in the front," added Thomas.
"That final was really nervous. There were crosswinds in the last 15K, I was well positioned until the roundabout, I was knocked, braked and then you lose 20 positions.
"Out of the roundabout I was just too far back and made a big effort to get across, and almost made it, but didn't quite get there."
The Belgian Quick-Step team muscled ahead, the same team that Thomas regularly faced when he led Team Sky in the Classics.
"Yeah, for sure, we knew something was going to happen along there, someone was going to try, everyone wanted to be there, and I was there until that little roundabout. I just lost my position there. That's when it all went Pete Tong [wrong]," Thomas said.
"That's their forte. They are always there in the crosswinds, fair play to them. They ride well as a team and have the horsepower to do that, so chapeau to them."
Thomas finished in a group 13 seconds back with other classification favourites including Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ).
The stage closed the big start, the first three days, in Sardinia. Teams fly to Palermo and enjoy a rest day on Monday. On Tuesday, the Giro re-starts with its first summit finish on Mount Etna.
"We stayed out of trouble and missed any mishaps. We will see on Tuesday, that is going to be interesting. Everyone is going to be testing each other. It could be a bit stop/start if it is windy at the top.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
'Ride like you own the road' - Zoe Bäckstedt on Paris-Roubaix Femmes, her Grand Tour debut and her new Red Bull helmet
Bäckstedt recently landed sponsorship from the energy drink giants and joined the likes of Tom Pidcock, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Evie Richards as a Red Bull athlete
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Stages Cycling lays off entire workforce, according to report
Renowned power meter brand appears to have ceased all operations
By Joe Baker Published
-
'It was one of the hardest days of my life' - Rain and cold lay waste to Tour of the Alps
Juanpe López takes stage three victory, while Geraint Thomas finishes three minutes down in inclement Austrian weather
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published