"To be honest: Roglic really deserves it" - Geraint Thomas classy in defeat at the Giro d'Italia

Although he must have been utterly heartbroken, Geraint Thomas was incredibly classy in defeat after losing the Maglia Rosa on the penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia following a truly special ride by Primoz Roglic.

“I had okay legs until halfway up the climb. I don't want to make excuses, but the setup of the time trial bike is different. I didn't feel like I could really push through," the Welshman told Adam Blythe of Eurosport immediately following the end of the stage. "In a way, it's nice to lose with this difference. With a second or so it would have been worse. At least he really beat me up. To be honest: Roglic really deserves it. He was unlucky with a mechanical and still takes forty seconds on me. Chapeau to him."

Thomas was looking to become the oldest rider to ever win the Giro d'Italia and although that ultimately wasn't the case, a second-placed finish at the age of 37, cements his place as one of the best riders of his generation.

“If you had said this to me in February or March, I wouldn't have believed you. Now I'm devastated," he admits. "I can be very proud of the season I've had. Also on the boys. They have worked so hard. I also want to thank everyone at home and everyone who came here. Even the Italian fans were great.”

Still smiling and cracking a joke, 'G' as he is known, finished the interview with a reference to his namesake Derek Gee, a perennial runner-up at this year's Giro d'Italia. “What is it with the G's in this race anyway? They are always second,” he laughs before shutting down any speculation of a Tour de France appearance. "It's over for me now. I'll be on the piss for the next two months."