Geraint Thomas gives blunt one-word answer about team-mate leaving him on mountain at Giro d'Italia
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Published 22/05/2024 at 14:30 GMT
When asked if it was his choice to let team-mate Thymen Arensman leave him behind on Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia, Geraint Thomas responded with a single word: "No". Thomas dropped to third in the overall standings after losing time on the final steep climb as Arensman was let off the leash. Thomas later admitted it might have been better for Arensman to stay with him, but downplayed the impact.
No' - Thomas reveals Ineos team-mate leaving him on mountain was not his call
Geraint Thomas gave a blunt one-word response when asked whether it was his decision to let Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Thymen Arensman leave him behind on Stage 16 at the Giro d'Italia.
Thomas dropped from second to third in the general classification after leaking time on the final double-digit ramp on Tuesday, with Arensman allowed to chase his own ambitions.
Arensman finished 38 seconds behind stage winner Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), with Thomas a further 11 seconds back as Dani Martinez (Bora-Hasgrohe) leadfrogged the Welshman on the provisional podium.
Asked by Eurosport if it was his decision to let Arensman disappear up the road, Thomas simply said: "No."
Pressed on whether he would have preferred his team-mate to stick with him, he replied: "It might have been better but at the same time it was only a short climb, it was over in a few minutes so there wasn't too much that could happen. It was just seconds [lost] at the end of the day."
Pogacar led Dani Martinez (Bora-Hasgrohe) by 7'18" in the general classification ahead of Wednesday's Stage 17, with Thomas at 7'40" and Arensman in sixth at 10'33".
Speaking ahead of Stage 17, Arensman insisted the priority was ensuring Thomas finished on the podium.
"It was a 2km, 12% climb, so you don't really have a draft," he told Eurosport.
"If G needs me I will always wait, the podium is a big priority for the team."
'It was quite telling' - Breakaway gang on thomas interview
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'I think you could see that in G's answer' - Breakaway dissect Thomas' one-word response
Over on The Breakaway, the gang were busy dissecting Thomas' one-word response.
"It was quite telling that it was a one-word 'no' answer. I think he would have liked to have the support of Thymen Arensman," said Dan Lloyd.
And while Nathan Van Hooydonck understood Ineos' tactics - trying to keep Arensman as close to the podium as possible to have another card in their locker - he said it might have been wiser to give Thomas support.
"The climb was very steep so draft wouldn't be very benificial. It was also quite short, so I don't think the help of Thymen Arensman would have made a very big difference," said Van Hooydonck.
"But for the confidence in your leader? Might say a little bit."
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