"Pogacar is the pre-race favourite, that means all eyes will be on him" - Geraint Thomas thinks Tadej Pogacar can be defeated at Giro d'Italia
Cycling
While most cycling fans are pleased at the idea of Tadej Pogacar completing the Giro-Tour double, few take into consideration another 'doubler' Geraint Thomas. Yet the history has proven us over and over that if the Welshman from INEOS Grenadiers excels at something, it's got to be timing the peak of his form for the one objective in Thomas' mind.
"Obviously, Tadej Pogacar is the pre-race favourite and has a strong team around him, and that changes the dynamic of the race a bit. But that also means all eyes will be on him over three long weeks of hard racing," Thomas said about the biggest star at the start of Giro d'Italia.
If Pogacar has one weakness that could be exposed, it's his team's strength. With Thymen Arensman and Tobias Foss in INEOS' selection, Thomas could try to isolate the Slovenian in the mountains, even if that might not be enough to take down the Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner. "Our plan is to be aggressive, take the race on and look for every opportunity to add pressure and take time."
Last race for Thomas before the Giro was Tour of the Alps, where the 37-year-old was sixth in a stage won by teammate Foss, but otherwise rode mostly anonymously, concluding the five stages in 13th overall. "I am feeling good and not thinking beyond the coming weeks in Italy. My only focus now is the Giro d'Italia and arriving there in my best shape possible," he concludes.
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The only way he is going to be defeated is sickness or injury from crash. Even a mechanical will not be enough
Most likley but we can also hope for someone else to take pink. You never know it might happen and we get a great race for pink instead of a Procession.
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- somewhere Andy Hampten is chuckling thinking "toughen up Jonas".mij13-03-2025
- 2021 Tour, not 2022. Merlier and Philipsen both went. Merlier won stage 3 and was clearly the fastest sprinter. Then they immediately changed the lineup for stage 4 with Merlier working leadout for Philipsen. That led to the first win for Cav that year and jasper came in 3rd. Jasper didn't win a single stage that year. Very odd to me that the team neglected the clearly faster rider immediately after winning a stage. Merlier was pretty dominant all of last year from UAE Tour to Euro Championship. The only other bunch sprinter to have a similar level was Milan, and that's continued this year. I can't wait to see those two go head to head at the Tour. Two very different styles for the two current bestEvan12-03-2025
- Sorry you have lost me there again. I can't decifer the point you are making.roadman5412112-03-2025
- Exactly, just showing the boys how you bring your leader back to the front.Mistermaumau12-03-2025
- If Skjelmose doesn't win tomorrow he has very little chance against Pogi on Mur de Huy in FWvappaxbipmv12-03-2025
- The decision to neutralize the race was so impulsive. The bad weather, in total, lasted 10-15 minutes. The stop worsened the situation: no movements -> no body warmth-> riders froze.
maria2024202412-03-2025 - I don't follow? I know he was complaing earlier but this wasn't a stage that suited Pederson?roadman5412112-03-2025
- Pedersen showing his team how it’s supposed to be done ;-)Mistermaumau12-03-2025
- Always good to be remindedMistermaumau12-03-2025
- No problem at all, happens to us all :-) always best to clear things up before they get worse.Mistermaumau12-03-2025