27 May 2023
Thomas slips to second after gutsy Giro battle
Related riders
Geraint Thomas
Giro d'Italia - Stage 20 » Tarvisio › Monte Lussari ITT, 18.6km
Geraint Thomas is set to finish second at the 2023 Giro d'Italia after setting the second fastest time and dropping one place overall on the final time trial.
The Welshman put in a valiant ride on the tough and decisive general classification finale. Despite setting the second fastest time, Thomas was unable to hold off Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who won the stage to move into the race lead by 14 seconds ahead of Sunday's Rome finale.
Thomas battled right to the line after three weeks spent riding with his Grenadiers team-mates, including eight days in the maglia rosa and three second place stage finishes.
Taking a 26-second lead into the test, Thomas managed his efforts well in the opening kilometres, but admitted to tiring in the final metres of the Monte Lussari climb. Roglic was able to battle back from a dropped chain to win the stage by an impressive 40 seconds.
Earlier Thymen Arensman and Laurens De Plus set great times to all be clinch sixth and 10th places overall respectively.
The Welshman put in a valiant ride on the tough and decisive general classification finale. Despite setting the second fastest time, Thomas was unable to hold off Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who won the stage to move into the race lead by 14 seconds ahead of Sunday's Rome finale.
Thomas battled right to the line after three weeks spent riding with his Grenadiers team-mates, including eight days in the maglia rosa and three second place stage finishes.
Taking a 26-second lead into the test, Thomas managed his efforts well in the opening kilometres, but admitted to tiring in the final metres of the Monte Lussari climb. Roglic was able to battle back from a dropped chain to win the stage by an impressive 40 seconds.
Earlier Thymen Arensman and Laurens De Plus set great times to all be clinch sixth and 10th places overall respectively.
Reaction
- Geraint Thomas
"I could feel my legs going a kilometre and a half from the top of that climb. I guess it’s nice to lose by that much rather than a second or two – as that would be worse I think. To be honest Primoz deserves that. He had a mechanical as well and still put 40 seconds in to me, so chapeau to him.
- Geraint Thomas
"I could feel my legs going a kilometre and a half from the top of that climb. I guess it’s nice to lose by that much rather than a second or two – as that would be worse I think. To be honest Primoz deserves that. He had a mechanical as well and still put 40 seconds in to me, so chapeau to him.
"If you had told me this back in Feb-March I would have bit your hand off. But now I’m devastated. With the season I’ve had up to this point I can be proud of that. I’m just gutted for the boys as well, they’ve worked so hard.
"I just want to say a massive thanks to everyone back home and who has come out here to support. Even the Italian fans they’ve been incredible."
