Finishing 1:14 down on his stage-winning teammate, Filippo Ganna, Thomas lost a further 45 seconds to
Tadej Pogacar, meaning the gap at the top of the Giro d'Italia GC is now a massive 3:41. Putting time into all his other podium rivals though, including most notably Daniel Martinez, Thomas can look back with pride on a solid day's work.
"I had info on Ganna to the first time check but then they stopped so I assumed I was quite far down," Thomas laughs. "They said I was up on Dani and the other GC guys on the first and second check but to be honest I was more just trying to keep fighting and ride it well."
"We've just got to keep trying you know. That's all we can do and we'll see how the next week goes," Thomas continues, still not ready to fully give up on his Maglia Rosa dream despite the seemingly insurmountable lead Pogacar now holds. "It's decent so far so just a big week to come now," he concludes.