Thomas back in the bunch at Trentino


Geraint Thomas returned to racing yesterday at the Giro del Trentino as he nurses himself back to race fitness in time for the Giro d'Italia.
The Barloworld rider has not raced since crashing out of the Tirreno-Adriatico in March and breaking his pelvis, but believes he'll be fit enough to start the Giro on May ninth.
"It's not too bad but it takes a bit of time to get back in to the rhythm of racing," he said after the second stage of Trentino. "The muscles in my right leg get a bit tired when I'm riding out of the saddle, but apart from that it's fine and it's getting better and better every day."
Thomas had 38 days away from racing after the crash that saw him sustain quite severe injuries, and admitted that all he is doing this week is easing himself back in to it. "It's just about survival and getting round. I'm on the phone to the physios and they're giving me stretches and exercises to do, I'll be doing them right up to the Giro."
Thursday's stage, that finished at the top of the Alpe di Pampeago, was won by Przemyslaw Niemiec of the Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia team. Thomas finished 14 minutes down in a small group of six. "I was in the group until about 10 kilometres to go then the road narrowed and they just accelerated out of it. So I just rode to the finish with a couple of other guys."
"I was a bit nervous, it was more on the descents, I was taking it really cautiously, I can't afford to have another crash now."
"I sprained my wrist quite badly and today I had to slam on the brakes and it pulled it a bit. I'm fine when climbing as I'm sitting on the tops , it's just braking and descending."
Tomorrow's stage is 165 km from Tesero to Innervillgraten in Austria.
RELATED LINKS
Andreas Kloden storms to opening Trentino TT win
Basso edges close to race lead in Giro del Trentino
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Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling when channel surfing in 1989 and happening across the greatest ever edition of the Tour de France. He's been a Greg LeMond fan ever since. He started racing in 1995 when moving to university in North Wales gave him more time to train and some amazing roads to train on. He raced domestically for several years, riding everything from Surrey leagues to time trials, track and even a few Premier Calendars. In 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium with the Kingsnorth International Wheelers.
Since working for Cycling Weekly he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He can still be seen at his club's evening races through the summer but he still hasn't completed the CW5000 challenge!
SIMON IS CURRENTLY RIDING
Road bike: Pinarello K8S with Shimano Dura Ace
TT bike: Specialized Venge road bike with FFWD wheels and Easton Attack TT bars
Gravel bike: N/A
Training bike: Rourke custom hand made with Reynolds 853 steel
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