As the dust settles on stage two, the new #Giro GC reveals @GeraintThomas86 sits sixth and @taogeoghegan eighth. Tao was unlucky to drop 19 seconds, along with much of the peloton, due to the late crash.
Opening Giro sprint "shock to the system" but Geraint Thomas benefits from crash split
CyclingMonday, 08 May 2023 at 12:05
Geraint Thomas was one of the riders who escaped the consequences of yesterday's Giro d'Italia crash, eventually climbing from 9th to 6th in the overall classification. The Welshman had to make a big effort to make that happen however, he recalls.
“We were a bit out of position and I saw Cav and a few guys go down. Luckily, I got through it but I was fully on the anchors at one point," Thomas said right after the stage. “I managed to get through and Ganna was with me which was perfect. Oh man, he rode so hard, I was [struggling] just to hold the wheel, but luckily we got back and it was okay."
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INEOS are aware of the importance of positioning, and Thomas was well placed when the peloton split. The same could not be said for who may be INEOS' biggest option Tao Geoghegan Hart who was the best placed rider in the GC that was caught out by the crash. The gap was only of 19 seconds but the psychological hit may put some more pressure on the team to make moves, seeing as both Pavel Sivakov and Thymen Arensman also suffered that loss.
“It was quite a steady away day until the last 3km which was just ballistic. It was a bit of a shock to the system but all good," Thomas concluded. Today's hilly stage into Melfi will see a bit of a climbing test but for the time being some of the sprinters and classics riders will have the best chances of taking the win on the day, whilst Tuesday's ascent to Colle Molella will be the first crucial test for the 36-year old.
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