26 May 2023
Thomas retains lead after queen stage
Related riders
Geraint Thomas
Giro d'Italia - Stage 19 » Longarone › Tre Cime di Lavaredo, 183km
Geraint Thomas and the INEOS Grenadiers put in another superb team performance on the queen stage at the Giro d'Italia.
The Welshman leads by 26 seconds overall heading into Saturday's decisive mountain time trial, with the destination of the maglia rosa set to be decided.
Thomas attacked with 400 metres to go on the steep finale to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo climb, briefly gapping nearest rival Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma). The Slovenian clawed back ground to edge out three seconds at the finish, as the duo led home the GC challengers after a brutal day of climbing.
Thomas holds an advantage of 26 seconds over Roglic, and 59 over Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), heading into the final showdown.
The maglia rosa was supported tremendously by his INEOS Grenadiers team-mates across the stage. Ben Swift and Salvatore Puccio put in mighty stints sharing the workload on the front. The pair led the peloton up the famous Passo Giau, controlling the tempo with rivals massed behind.
Laurens De Plus led over the Giau and then set about upping the tempo to thin out the GC group behind. A brilliant effort saw him repeatedly return to the front, before Thymen Arensman took it up on the final climb.
Thomas was able to quickly shut down Roglic's first attack, with the pair riding together to the line, distancing Almeida to the tune of 20 seconds.
Arensman was able to move up to a fine seventh on the day, with De Plus also holding station in 10th overall.
The Welshman leads by 26 seconds overall heading into Saturday's decisive mountain time trial, with the destination of the maglia rosa set to be decided.
Thomas attacked with 400 metres to go on the steep finale to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo climb, briefly gapping nearest rival Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma). The Slovenian clawed back ground to edge out three seconds at the finish, as the duo led home the GC challengers after a brutal day of climbing.
Thomas holds an advantage of 26 seconds over Roglic, and 59 over Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), heading into the final showdown.
The maglia rosa was supported tremendously by his INEOS Grenadiers team-mates across the stage. Ben Swift and Salvatore Puccio put in mighty stints sharing the workload on the front. The pair led the peloton up the famous Passo Giau, controlling the tempo with rivals massed behind.
Laurens De Plus led over the Giau and then set about upping the tempo to thin out the GC group behind. A brilliant effort saw him repeatedly return to the front, before Thymen Arensman took it up on the final climb.
Thomas was able to quickly shut down Roglic's first attack, with the pair riding together to the line, distancing Almeida to the tune of 20 seconds.
Arensman was able to move up to a fine seventh on the day, with De Plus also holding station in 10th overall.
