"The important thing is for everyone to be in front" - INEOS Grenadiers set to put stage-hunting goals aside in protection of Geraint Thomas on stage 6

With stage 6 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia something of a mini-Strade Bianche, there is great possibility for a GC reshuffle. As such, the ambitious INEOS Grenadiers will be putting their dream of stage wins aside in protection of Geraint Thomas.

"The important thing is for everyone to be in front," INEOS Grenadiers coach Dario Cioni explains in conversation with Cycling News. "When the lads are working for Geraint, they'll all have to be in front anyway. The priority for a stage like this will be not to have problems with Geraint. Then, if there aren't problems with Geraint, then maybe we can think about the stage."

With all of the GC teams surely having similar thoughts though, the fight for position ahead of the gravel could be a feisty one. "It will still be very important to be in front because there's barely any respite between the first and second sectors," Cioni explains. "If you're first into the first sector, then you'll still be in front for the second, so there'll certainly be a big battle for positions before the entry to the sterrato."

"It's a Giro d'Italia stage with some of the roads of Strade Bianche, but it's a long way off being a real Strade Bianche," Cioni continues. "In the end, Strade Bianche is much more selective. Here, maybe the second sector is the only one that's difficult. There might be more problems caused by mechanical issues than by natural selection. The finale is difficult. The last sector of gravel itself isn't very hard, but then the last kick into Rapolano will be difficult."