"I would have preferred him not to come but at the same time having him is fantastic" - Geraint Thomas excited about fighting with Tadej Pogacar at the Giro-Tour double

Following the example of his younger opponent Tadej Pogacar, Geraint Thomas will also rise up to the challenge of completing both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, possibly fighting for the highest ranks with the Slovenian.

But even just to face off against Pogacar is a huge motivation for the 37-year-old Ineos Grenadiers rider, he tells La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It's Pogacar and I would have preferred him not to come, but at the same time having him is fantastic," he said. "Him taking part changes the race and his team will carry the weight of the race, but in the years to come he'll leave a huge legacy as one of the greatest ever. He's incredible, so just to be competitive with him and fight for the same thing is exciting."

"It's simply a huge challenge to be at my best for so long, and I've never done it before, but I like these new things," Thomas said about the Giro-Tour double he's planning this year. "They're the things that give meaning to your being as a rider."

"I thought, 'What do I have to lose?' I'll go to the Giro, get the best result there, then go to the Tour in the best possible shape," he said. "If it means racing for myself or helping Carlos Rodríguez in the mountains or on the flat, I still don't know, but that's also part of the fun."

"Sepp Kuss did three Grand Tours last year, which was an incredible job. The period between the Giro and the Tour will be important and then the road race at the Olympics is also in my thoughts."

"At the end of the day, so many things can happen, both good and bad, and I certainly know something about that," he concluded, referring to the Monte Lussari time trial last year. "We'll see. I'm enjoying the challenge."