Geraint Thomas targets Giro d'Italia after disappointment over Tour de France route
Welshman says he doesn't know whether he will be riding for GC in May or not yet
In what could be his final season as a professional cyclist, it looks like Geraint Thomas will not be heading to the Tour de France next summer. It was already very much under consideration, but a Tour route without much time trialling made the decision for him.
Instead, the Ineos Grenadiers rider has said that he would prefer to go to the Giro d'Italia, a race he has unfinished business with, with his last two appearances at the Italian Grand Tour ending in abandonments
This year he finished third at the Tour, the third time he has finished on the podium at the Grand Tour, after winning it in 2018 and finishing second in 2019. He also won the Tour de Suisse, and proved his worth to his Ineos team despite there being a plethora of general classification riders in the squad..
However, a return to France does not appeal to him, especially in light of the lack of time trialling; there will be just 22km against the clock next July, in a climbing-heavy Tour.
"I'm not too sure why they've done that," Thomas told Cyclingnews at the Tour de France Criterium in Saitama.
"When I did my first Tour in 2007 – OK, it was a long time ago – it had two TTs of 50km plus, so it's quite extreme to go the other way like that.
"Those TT days are big iconic stages as well. This year there were only three big bunch sprints, which are iconic stages as well. Maybe they're just trying to mix it up completely. I think it's disappointing there's not more [time trialling]."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
It is the lowest amount of time trialling since 2015, and does not appeal to a rouleur like Thomas. The Giro route, meanwhile, has 70.6km of racing against the clock.
"That's what I was thinking anyway [going to the Giro]," Thomas said. "The Giro is a lot less intense - just the atmosphere and everything. I'd like to ride it another time."
"It's a race I've always enjoyed, even if I've crashed out the last two times I've done it. It would be nice to go back and finish it."
In 2017, Thomas was forced to withdraw from the Giro while he was challenging for GC after he crashed due to a poorly-parked police motorbike. In 2020, he crashed due to a stray bidon in the neutral zone ahead of stage three.
"There is a bit of ['what might have been']," he explained. "In 2020 I felt in really good shape. Even one before that with the motorbike parked on the road... I really would have loved to have seen how I'd have done."
However, despite being a senior rider and wanting to head to the Giro, Thomas refused to be drawn on whether he would be going for overall victory. It would likely see him battle against Remco Evenepoel, among others.
"How I treat it would just be to get to the Giro as best I can," he said. Whether that ends up being going for stages or riding GC, that's a different matter. But I'd really like to do the Giro.
"It'll be similar to the Tour this year – just get there in the best shape and go from there."
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Tweets of the week: Pogačar can be beaten, Pidcock meets the royals, and Remco's an Arsenal fan
Sadly for Tadej Pogačar, serial winning doesn't seem to apply to go karting
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Friday roundup: Rapha does sportswear, Oakley meets PNS and Restrap makes a vest
Two new clothing lines, some hi-tech smart glasses and a hydration vest to inspire you to ride further
By Luke Friend Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2024 start list: Geraint Thomas to lead 'aggressive' Ineos Grenadiers
All the teams and riders for the 107th Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
Wout van Aert back on drop bars as he says he’s 'almost professional again' in Strava post
Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis 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
-
Jonas Vingegaard leaves hospital after Itzulia Basque Country horror crash
Danish rider underwent surgery to repair broken collarbone; too early to know whether Tour de France return will be possible
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert to miss Giro d'Italia due to injuries suffered at Dwars door Vlaanderen
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider was set to ride the Italian Grand Tour for the first time
By Adam Becket Published
-
Will the Tour de France be won by the last man standing?
With Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič hitting the deck at Itzulia Basque Country, all three now face battle to get their seasons back on track
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock unable to bear weight on right leg after Itzulia Basque Country crash
British rider crashed during recon of opening stage time trial last weekend and injured his right hip
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish to miss Scheldeprijs as illness continues to affect schedule
Cavendish will ride Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye later this month, Astana Qazaqstan confirms
By Tom Thewlis Published