Geraint Thomas says he is “in a great place” as he prepares to lead a strong Ineos Grenadiers team at May’s Giro d’Italia.
Former Tour de France winner Thomas, 37, is targeting both Grand Tours in 2024, having been runner-up in Italy 12 months ago.
Ineos also include top 10 Giro finishers Thymen Arensman and Tobias Foss in their squad for this year’s race which starts in Turin on Saturday, 4 May.
“We have a strong line-up and there is a good bond with this group,” said Thomas.
“The core is the same as last year’s Giro team, with some great additions for this year.
“We have spent a lot of time together at training camp – we know what we need to do and are all feeling super-motivated to get the job done and deliver.”
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7 November 2023
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Thomas will be riding his sixth Giro, having crashed out in 2017 and 2020 before losing out in agonising fashion in 2023.
The Welsh rider was wearing the leader’s Maglia Rosa jersey until the penultimate stage when he was beaten by Primoz Roglic who took the overall title by just 15 seconds.
Roglic will not be defending his title in 2024 but his Slovenian compatriot Tadej Pogacar is hotly tipped for victory.
“Obviously Tadej Pogacar is the pre-race favourite and has a strong team around him, and that changes the dynamic of the race a bit,” said Thomas.
“But that also means all eyes will be on him over three long weeks of hard racing.
“Our plan is to be aggressive, take the race on and look for every opportunity to add pressure and take time.”
UAE Team Emirates rider Pogacar was victorious in last week’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege spring classic, having also won Strade Bianche and the seven-stage Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya.
Thomas, who was 27th in Catalunya and 13th earlier this month at the Tour of the Alps, says he is happy with his form with a busy summer to come.
“With the plan to race the Giro and then go straight into the Tour, there has been a different approach and slower build-up this season,” he said.
“But I am feeling good and not thinking beyond the coming weeks in Italy.
“My only focus now is the Giro and arriving there in my best shape possible.”