A hectic sprint rounded out stage 18 at the #Giro @ThymenArensman finished in the bunch despite a late puncture. @SwiftConnor selflessly gave up his bike in the closing kilometres 👊 @GeraintThomas86 retains third overall with three stages to go.
"I'm definitely not about the Tour" - Geraint Thomas fully focused on Giro d'Italia and plans on attacking Daniel Martínez
CyclingFriday, 24 May 2024 at 12:15
Geraint Thomas rode a brilliant Giro d'Italia last year, only losing the pink jersey on the final competitive day but finishing second in the overall classification. He is seemingly riding to another podium this year, but he is not yet content with his third place and is fully focused on making the difference before setting his sights on the Tour de France.
"I'm definitely not about the Tour de France, definitely not. I'm just thinking about tomorrow, the next one and then a nice week off. Then I can start looking forward," Thomas said in words to Cyclingnews following stage 18. The Welshman will race the Giro-Tour double for the first time in his career, at 37 years of age, but will be in a supporting role - whilst for the time being, he leads INEOS Grenadiers at the Giro d'Italia.
So far he has ridden a virtually spotless race, only with slightly bad days on stage 7 (the first time-trial) and stage 16 to Monte Pana. However they were small losses, and at the time being Thomas is in a relatively comfortable place on the podium as long as he avoids a bad day; and the second place in the GC is possible as he sits 22 seconds behind his former teammate Daniel Martínez.
"You're always hoping for a bit of an easier day and it was anything but that, but we should have known. It's been like that every day," he said of this Thursday's tense flat stage. However, despite today's difficulties into Sappada, he is fully focused on Saturday' stage which goes up Monte Grappa twice. "I'm only counting two stages, we don't count the last one. Tomorrow (today, ed.) is another big day, and then obviously Saturday is the biggest one."
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Can Thomas do it? "You always want more. I think I can be happy with how I've ridden so far. I haven't made too many mistakes and just tried everything I could."
"Two more big days, and we'll see where I end up. It's tough against Dani [Martínez]. He's riding really well. I get on with him. I think it's just about trying to see what happens."
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