"You never say it's totally over" - Geraint Thomas realistic but optimistic as he adjust targets for the remainder of the Vuelta a Espana

The first week of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana has not gone perfectly to plan for Geraint Thomas and the INEOS Grenadiers, but as the race enters week two, the Welshman is optimistic about his chances of taking some success home from Spain.

“Up and down. Mainly down, on the floor as much as anything else," the INEOS Grenadiers leader recapped in his typical fashion to his team's social media channels. "It's been a tough week for the team, obviously me personally as well. But losing two of our climbers as well is certainly not ideal with the terrain we have had and got to come."

After coming so close to taking victory at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year, Thomas had entered the race with high hopes of a podium finish. Entering the first rest day however, he sits 22nd in the GC at 12:34. "We are just going to have to take every day as it comes," said Thomas. "The GC kind of just – well you never say it's totally over because one break away and you can kind of be back in the mix – but I'd say the podium is a long way off now and I think it's more about re-focussing and looking at each day as it comes."

"There are still a lot of chances and we have still got a good team and we still potentially can do something good. It's just keeping morale up now and, as I said, staying positive and seeing what we can do," he evaluates. "With the sprints, you never know with Filippo Ganna. He's got a massive engine, and then all the other days I think we just need to be aggressive and be on it and try to take the opportunities that are out there.”

If he has all but officially ruled himself out of the Red Jersey battle, how exactly does Thomas see the fight for overall victory going? “Obviously Jumbo are the stand-out team at the moment," he says. "The way they've been riding all year really. They are just on that crest of a wave and everything is going right for them at the minute."

"They are obviously in a commanding position but UAE are looking strong behind them so we will see how that goes," the former Tour de France winner concludes. "I think it will be a big effort to take over from Jumbo but Remco is in the mix as well and I certainly wouldn't write him out.”