"They’re already racing for the podium and they’re not really going for the win" - Geraint Thomas critical of rival teams tactics at Giro d'Italia

Whilst Tadej Pogacar seems a cut above the rest at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, there is still over a week for the remaining Maglia Rosa hopefuls to try and take the race lead. Sadly, according to 3rd placed Geraint Thomas at least, many of those near the top of the GC have already given up hopes of victory and are instead content to chase the podium.

Pogacar's strength is unquestioned but the level of his UAE Team Emirates is something that has been seen as a potential target for rivals since even before the start of the race and on stage 12, the Slovenian and his team were put in a difficult position as both Jan Hirt, who started the day 11th at just 5:57 down found himself in the breakaway. Would UAE Team Emirates burn through riders in order to chase and keep the gap manageable? As it turns out they wouldn't have to make that decision as Bahrain - Victorious, the team of 5th placed Antonio Tiberi came to the front of the peloton instead.

This decision drew the ire of Thomas. "It’s obvious that they’re already racing for the podium and they’re not really going for the win," the Welshman lamented in regards to Bahrain - Victorious' tactics in his post-stage interview with GCN. "Otherwise they’d just let UAE Team Emirates do it.”

As has been noted previously during this race, having already won the Tour de France and finished runner-up at the Giro d'Italia last season, another Grand Tour podium or top-5 won't do much for Thomas' career. For the likes of Tiberi however, who has never placed on a Grand Tour podium before, such a result would mean much more and as such, Thomas can understand the choice despite his frustrations.

“That’s just the way it is. We wouldn’t have helped them but you can kind of see why they would do it with those guys up there but are they going to be there by Rome anyway?" the INEOS Grenadiers leader concludes. "UAE were lucky there.”