Geraint Thomas can be as good as Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar, according to sports director Servais Knaven.
Welshman Thomas is one of the pre-race favourites to win the 2021 Tour de France, which starts in Brittany on June 26, alongside the Slovenian superstars Roglič and Pogačar.
The Ineos Grenadiers leader has been back to his best in 2021, winning the Tour de Romandie overall and finishing third in the Critérium du Dauphiné last weekend.
But Thomas, winner of the 2018 Tour de France, faces a tough challenge from the two current biggest Grand Tour stars, Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), who both won three-week races last season.
Knaven, a former Paris-Roubaix winner and now Ineos Grenadiers sports director, told cycling website Wielerflits: “You should not underestimate Geraint Thomas. When he’s at his best, he’s not inferior to Pogačar and Roglič.
“Thomas is super-motivated, you could see that in the Tour de Romandie which he won in an impressive way.
“G realises very well that it could be one of his last chances to compete for the overall victory.”
Ineos Grenadiers are expected to head to the Tour with the strongest team, as Thomas will be supported by the likes of Giro d’Italia winners Tao Geoghegan Hart and Richard Carapaz, along with veteran and overall contender Richie Porte.
But Ineos will go up against a strong Jumbo-Visma squad in support of Roglič, which will include Steven Kruijswijk, Sepp Kuss and Wout van Aert, while Pogačar is likely to rely more on his own ability than team strength in the mountains.
>>> Tom Dumoulin thinks he's 'quite close' to where he needs to be after comeback at Tour de Suisse
Knaven said that Ineos need to use their team strength to overpower the dominant Slovenian pair: “Of course it is to our advantage if Pogačar is isolated. Overall, I think we do indeed have the best team with Richie Porte, Richard Carapaz and Tao Geoghegan Hart. If eight men remain in a mountain stage, there is a good chance that we will still be represented with three or four riders.”
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
British men just miss out on Madison medal as Mørkøv gets gold for Denmark on final day of Roubaix Track Worlds
Katie Archibald also took silver in the points race, her fourth medal of these Championships
By Jonny Long •
-
Jan Ullrich undertakes longest ride 'since Milan - San Remo 1997' at Mallorca Gran Fondo
The German says he has been training hard over the past year after recovering from a troubled period
By Jonny Long •
-
Sir Dave Brailsford responds to rumours that Egan Bernal wants to leave Ineos Grenadiers
Amidst speculation that Bernal was not getting on with his team-mates and could depart, the Ineos boss has shared his thoughts
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Ineos youngster Luke Plapp: 'I can't find a flight, it's been quite a while since I've seen my family'
The silver medalist in the U23 men's Worlds time trial has not seen family or friends for months after he left Australia to forge his professional cycling career
By Jonny Long •
-
Magnus Sheffield says he thinks Ineos Grenadiers 'will rise to the top again' as he joins British WorldTour squad
The American rider managed a solid tenth place at the under-23 time trial at the Road World Championships
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Ethan Hayter disappointed to surrender Tour of Britain title on final day
Wout van Aert secured victory away from Hayter with his stage win in Aberdeen
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
'I just put it in my biggest gear and went flat out': Ethan Hayter on his first Tour of Britain stage win
The British rider has been on sparkling form this season taking his eighth win of the year in Warrington
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Ethan Hayter says he's 'up against it' as he leads Tour of Britain into queen stage
Ineos Grenadiers took stage three team time trial and now sit first and second in the overall standings
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
‘I learned about suffering’ - Egan Bernal and Adam Yates reflect on mixed Vuelta a España for Ineos Grenadiers
The British WorldTour squad left the race without a reason to celebrate, but have taken hope from the final Grand Tour of the season
By Alex Ballinger •
-
'It’s been the team I’ve always looked up to': Britain's Ben Tulett joins Ineos Grenadiers for 2022 season
The 20-year-old has wanted to ride for the team since reading about the launch in Cycling Weekly back in 2010
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
