"I just didn't feel like I had anything today" - Geraint Thomas drops to 3rd and loses significant time on stage 16 of Giro d'Italia

On the reduced and weather-affected stage 16 at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, one of the most notable riders to get into difficulty and lose some considerable time was the INEOS Grenadiers GC leader, Geraint Thomas.

Finishing the day now 7:40 down on Maglia Rosa Tadej Pogacar, who took his fifth stage win of the race on the day, more worryingly for Thomas and his supporters, the Welshman also lost significant time to Daniel Martinez and as such, has dropped to 3rd in the general classification, now 22 seconds behind his former teammate in the race for second place.

"I just didn't feel like I had anything today and that last climb was just a big grovel to the top basically," reflected Thomas in his immediate post-stage interview with Cycling Pro Net. "I was quite surprised Movistar Team took it up so early and were controlling the break as well. But you know, fair play to them, they gave it a good go."

"But yeah, when it came back, Pog went," Thomas recalls, not yet giving up hope of a second successive runner-up spot at the Giro d'Italia despite the disappointing day. "For sure Dani will have passed me but I'm still in there I guess. So tomorrow is another day," concludes the 37-year-old.

Somewhat curiously in the finale with Thomas struggling and his podium finish potentially slipping away from him, the Welshman's INEOS Grenadiers teammate, Thymen Arensman did not drop back to help, instead attempting to follow the attacks up ahead.