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Geraint Thomas does Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double in 2024; starts season at Volta ao Algarve - "I need to mix it up a bit"
CyclingThursday, 25 January 2024 at 14:14
Geraint Thomas was one of the few top stage-racers that was yet to reveal his full Grand Tour plans for the 2024 season. That is no more, the Welshman officially confirms that he will race both Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this upcoming summer.
"I'm basically going to ride the Giro and the Tour. I really wanted to go back to the Giro after last year and give it one big go, and obviously the Tour, I didn't like missing it last year. So I'm going to try and stay on it and go into the Tour," Thomas revealed in an Instagram live. "It's going to be a massive challenge, because I've never done it before. I did it in '17 but crashed out of both, so hopefully, it will be a bit better than that. It's a big challenge, it's my 18th year as a professional so I need to mix it up a bit, I find. It's something which will certainly get me out of bed in the morning."
The 37-year old had some rough years on the bike but bounced back in 2022 to finish on the podium of the Tour de France. In 2023, he rode to second at the Giro d'Italia, however he was very close to netting the pink jersey. Whilst Tadej Pogacar's presence may make that too difficult this time around, Thomas will most likely lead INEOS Grenadiers' overall aspirations at the race.
Following the Giro, he takes some rest and will likely support Carlos Rodríguez and Tom Pidcock at the Tour de France. "It's certainly different, I think that block in between the Giro and the Tour is the main thing. I've said it so much about weight, that's the key bit really, so just staying on the ball there," he continues. In 2025 he may focus on the cobbled classics, and so this is likely the last time Thomas races two Grand Tours in one season.
He's also shared where he will begin his upcoming campaign: "I'm going to start with [Volta ao] Algarve at the minute, and then basically the same run-in as I had last year. So [Volta a] Catalunya, Sierra Nevada as an altitude camp, [Tour of the] Alps and Giro."
Last year it was a perfect formula, which he will look to replicate this time around. "So it's maybe like 17 days of racing going into the Giro, so not a hell of a lot for obvious reasons really, because by the time you get to the Tour, you don't want to have 50-odd days in you." The Olmypic Games are also in Thomas' plans, with the time-trial likely being the priority.
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