Giro d'Italia: Geraint Thomas ready for 'massive challenge' of taking on Tadej Pogacar - 'Itching to go'

By The Editorial Team

Updated 01/05/2024 at 18:12 GMT

Ineos Grenadiers rider Geraint Thomas knows that he faces a tall order if he is to win this year's Giro d'Italia, given the form of last year's champion, Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates. Speaking ahead of this season's first Grand Tour, the 37-year-old veteran reflected on a calmer period of preparation compared to 2023's illness-hit run-up to the event.

Geraint Thomas thinks that it is far from a foregone conclusion that Tadej Pogacar will win this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was the runner-up to Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) last year in the first Grand Tour of the season, and has enjoyed a subdued start to the 2024 campaign.

Instead of looking to bring in titles in the early season, he has used his events to provide benefits for his training ahead of the Giro.

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Pogacar, however, has started superbly this year already, but Thomas was relaxed when he looked ahead of the competition with Pogacar installed as favourite.

“You don’t think that first place is gone and if anything it takes the pressure off because everyone expects him to win and they don’t expect us to do anything so there’s no pressure from that side of things,” he told GCN .

"It does make the race different to last year, 100%, but we’re confident. The main thing was about getting here in good shape and then you just do what you can.

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“Obviously it’s a massive task because Tadej is a phenomenal bike rider and as I’ve said recently, one of the greatest ever, but we’re relishing the challenge.

“They’ve got a strong team but so do we and there are plenty of other strong bike riders here as well. It’s also the Giro and a lot can go good and bad, as we all know. We’re excited.”

Last year ahead of the Giro, Thomas had been battling illness, but this year a less intense period of preparation has him feeling relaxed.

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“It’s been a slightly slower start this year with the hope of riding the Tour de France after this but I feel like I’ve had a much smoother run-in this year compared to last year when I had my illness. I’m excited about getting racing, we’ve got a good strong team with a good atmosphere, there’s a few new guys and we’re all itching to go,” he continued.

“This year has been a lot more straightforward and I do feel in training a bit stronger but who knows because every year and every race is different but I feel like I’ve done everything that I can to be in a good place, so I’ll just get out there and race the race. Hopefully, we’re right up there.”

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