"I'm not going to give up yet" - Geraint Thomas suffers big hit on first mountain clash at Vuelta
CyclingTuesday, 29 August 2023 at 09:57
Geraint Thomas was one of the losers from the first mountain clash. He had hinted for lesser good form arriving at the Vuelta a Espana, and on the first summit finish he shed some time and took a hit in his run for the podium.
"I just didn't have it today. It didn't go well," Thomas told Eurosport. "During the first hours I felt quite okay, but on the last climb I felt I couldn't really push on. I was quite far back and had to pull out all the stops to keep from dropping.”
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Ultimately the Welshman was not successful. His loss on the day was not huge, he crossed the finish line together with Egan Bernal, 47 seconds back on Remco Evenepoel. However he was 23rd on the day only, with plenty outsiders and non-GC contenders outclimbing him in Arinsal.
After this stage he sits 21st in the overall classification, 1:11 minutes down on the Belgian, however it is a very different start to that he had at the Vuelta a Espana. “Of course I'm not going to give up yet. I'm going to keep fighting. But this is certainly a day to forget."
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- Perhaps they were closer to start with? But the rider who simply offered his help was gracious about Jonas reacting with annoyance to him.Hills3327-01-2026
- I watched the video on Twitter (X): the amateur cyclist was not on his wheel; at all. There was more than 100-150 meters between them. Maybe Jonas overreacted?
maria2024202427-01-2026 - Then another cyclist's offer of help was brushed away. It is not hard to empathise with Jonas, whose ride was ruined. But I can't help wondering if the journalists who are now asking amateurs to stay away from all top riders would have been as understanding if the top rider involved was Pogacar.Hills3327-01-2026
- His anger wasn't justified? What kind of a thought is that? The few times I've crashed I can't remember getting up and saying " Gee that was fun I think I'll do that again".Bianchiboy7127-01-2026
- I don't want some random jackass coming out of nowhere and sucking my wheel on a fast, technical descent either.mrvco27-01-2026
- That kit is hideously ugly. They're not seriously going out in public looking like that are they?megasmacky27-01-2026
- This is absurd.A multi millionaire pro training on the same road as joe average? Really.And secondly training without your teamates surrounding you or near you? Really? If you throw caution and safety to the wind like that you get whatever happens on the road.Wake up Visma and protect your greatest asset.Nonsense.
Brucegel27-01-2026 - I don't understand very well, did Vingegaard get annoyed, try to escape the amateur cyclist, and slip? was that the crash dynamic?maria2024202427-01-2026
- Amateur riders are in their glory when given the opportunity to ride alongside (or behind) pro cyclists who are out training, but I'm sure that feeling is not mutual amongst the pros. The comments made after the fact by the amateur rider in question in the Vingegaard incident seem to show a complete lack of sensitivity and lack of respect for a professional athlete out on the road training. I don't think that you can blame Jonas at all for being angry or upset about it.
santiagobenites27-01-2026 - This gives Princess Diana vibes. You are responsible for what you do. If your actions due to speeding cause injury or worse to self or another, you will be held responsible. While amateurs need to give space to faster riders, Pros also need to be mindful that its not their private training spotabstractengineer27-01-2026
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The first summit finish of #LaVuelta23 is complete. @ThymenArensman led us in, finishing 21" back in 15th. @GeraintThomas86 dug deep to limit his losses, finishing at 47". @Eganbernal did a great job helping his teammates in the final kilometres.
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