"I'm not afraid of them" - Geraint Thomas ready to face Roglic and Evenepoel at Giro d'Italia, details feelings towards Giro d'Italia return

Geraint Thomas has had plenty success in the past throughout his long career but he remains hungry for success. The Welshman is ready for the Giro d'Italia, the fifth time he will be at the Grande Partenza, where he will be a big weapon for INEOS Grenadiers.

"I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into the Giro. The last two times I’ve been there I haven’t even finished, so hopefully I can get to Rome at the very least!" Thomas said in a press release. "Obviously, this year has been a bit stop-start, but I’m on the right track and coming into some shape just in time - with all the boys going super-well too. We had a really good camp at Sierra Nevada and then the Tour of the Alps obviously went really well, so morale is high. Everyone’s confident and we’re just looking forward to racing now."

Thomas started his season at the Tour Down Under however collected health issues in the following month, which has delayed his preparation. Having the Giro in mind however, which he chose due to the high amount of time-trialing kilometers, it hasn't affected him too badly as he has ridden a conservative spring. The Corsa Rosa will be decided in the final week which includes three brutal mountain stages and a terrifying time-trialing up Monte Lussari.

However Thomas doesn't feel the pressure. "For me, I just want to enjoy it," he says. "As a junior, the thought of even going to the Giro with a group of lads all trying to perform at our absolute best…I would have been super-excited, so I’m looking forward to going there, soaking it up and getting stuck in."

Tao Geoghegan Hart sets off as co-leader for the British team throughout the three weeks after what have been a very successful few weeks where the team controlled the Tour of the Alps. The lineup includes very strong riders too such as Thymen Arensman, Pavel Sivakov, Laurens de Plus and Filippo Ganna.

"It’ll be nice having [Ben] Swifty on the team too - we’ve been racing together since we were like 10 or 11 on bike paths around parks. Hopefully we have the chance to enjoy it, because it’s a tough race and the end’s obviously super hard," he continued. "The last week’s going to decide it, I think, so I’m looking forward to getting there, getting into the race and giving it everything with the lads."

Talking to Wielerflits Thomas acknowledged that Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic are expected to be a level above the rest, however "I'm not afraid of them, but I do know that they will certainly be the two strongest riders. Especially after what they have already shown this year, and also in recent years. They are super strong, but we have a good chance to beat them.”