🗣️ "It’s the queen stage. It’s going to be a tough one. Hopefully we can keep riding as we have been." @GeraintThomas86 knows what it's all about. As expected we've seen a rapid start to stage 19 as a break tries to form #Giro
At the start of stage 19 of the 2023 Giro d'Italia, the INEOS Grenadiers have Geraint Thomas in the Maglia Rosa with Thymen Arensman and Laurens de Plus also in the top 10. De Plus however is more than willing to sacrifice his position to help his team leader.
"I'm not concerned with that. I would rather be the best teammate of the Giro than finish in the top 10," said the 27-year-old Belgian prior to the start of the nineteenth stage. "As a team it is incredibly difficult to win a Grand Tour. I have been close to it several times in the past."
Although Thomas may be a former Tour de France winner and even finished alongside Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard on the podium of the Tour last year, he celebrated his 37th birthday on Thursday, meaning his opportunities at winning another Grand Tour are running out.
"This may be the last general classification ever for Thomas. He will give everything today and tomorrow," says de Plus. "It would be a dream to win this Giro with Thomas."
🗣️ "It’s the queen stage. It’s going to be a tough one. Hopefully we can keep riding as we have been." @GeraintThomas86 knows what it's all about. As expected we've seen a rapid start to stage 19 as a break tries to form #Giro