A pair of INEOS Grenadiers riders made the breakaway on stage 11 of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana and although neither Geraint Thomas nor Filippo Ganna could finish it off for the stage win, the Welshman was full of praise for his teammate.
"The two of us wanted to join the breakaway and me and Filippo Ganna was a good combination," opened a somewhat disappointed Thomas in his post-stage interview with Eurosport. "I told him and the team halfway through that I wasn't feeling very well. I don't know if they thought in the car if I was nervous or low on confidence. But I was just honest."
Despite Thomas's questions over his own levels, Ganna insisted on working for his leader. "He tried to encourage me and Filippo put himself completely at my service. I appreciate that, but unfortunately I couldn't finish it," Thomas laments. "It felt like I had no real acceleration at the end, it felt a bit limited. In any case, we have done everything we can."
"The way I saw him at the beginning of the stage, he reminded me of Wout van Aert in last year's Tour," concluded Thomas, full of praise for Ganna. "He just made the escape. As he continued, the peloton broke into pieces due to the crosswind. He has so much power, it's great to have him there."
🇪🇸 | It was a nail-biting finale at #LaVuelta23, with @GeraintThomas86 coming home fifth on stage 11. The Welshman gave it everything as the breakaway contested the summit finish. What an effort too from @GannaFilippo, who set an amazing tempo and held on for 10th 👏👏👏
