Geraint Thomas set to work for INEOS teammates and warns of conservative climb to Fóia: "It could be a stalemate for the majority of the climb"

Stage 2 of the Volta ao Algarve finishes atop the Alto da Fóia and will be an important day for the overall classification. At the start line Geraint Thomas talked about his ambitions, and how the race may play out in the hands of INEOS Grenadiers.

"It's a nice race to start the season, a couple of sprint, two hard days and a TT as well. A bit of everything, strong field, generally good weather so a good place to start," Thomas said in words to CyclingPro.net. "I feel ok, better this time than last year but that's not too hard to be honest with the start of the year that I had. Good enough to help the boys, I certainly won't be going for the win myself, I'll see what I can do for them."

The team's ambitions could be to perform with Magnus Sheffield or Tom Pidcock, but it is clear that the British team has several riders with a free role for the week. "It's all about just working hard and getting some good intensity. If it's a sprint to the top with the strong headwinds it could be a stalemate for the majority of the climb," he says of today's finish, inserting another outsider: "Someone like Pippo (Filippo Ganna, ed.) could play into his hands as well, but we'll see how everyone is on the road."

The Portuguese race is the first step for the Welshman in this important season of his career. He races the Tour de France later in the year, and that changes his plans for the spring. "Obviously won't be racing too much before the Giro," he says. There he should be INEOS' leader for the overall classification. Although the presence of Tadej Pogacar may make it a very hard task, Thomas will surely be a podium contender at the start of the Corsa Rosa.