Giro d'Italia 2023 Stage 16 recap: Geraint Thomas back in pink after Joao Almeida wins on Monte Bondone

It would have been nice to win the stage but I had to keep riding – didn’t want to be caught playing cat and mouse with Joao with Roglic behind. So, we worked well together and then I led it out. Unfortunately he had the jump on me and won the sprint. But it’s nice to be back in pink and gain some time. But it’s obviously not great to lose a team-mate [in Pavel Sivakov].”

On Almeida: “He was always one of the biggest rivals coming in here and he’s shown how strong he is – and his team as well. It’s no surprise.”

“I’m so happy – it’s a dream come true. After four years I was always so close and yet so far at the same time. Finally I’ve got it. I don’t have the words to describe it. My team was amazing and they did a great job as always. I knew I was feeling good and I took the risk to go for it. If you don’t try, you don’t know. I tried and I achieved it – so I’m very happy for the team. It’s very special for me. I will always try to go for more and fight to the end to give everything I have.”

Despite those fireworks on Monte Bondone, the top three are still only separated by 29 seconds as the GC battle finally intensified at the start of a brutal final week.

1. Geraint Thomas
2. Joao Almeida +18
3. Primoz Roglic +29
4. Damiano Caruso +2:50
5. Eddie Dunbar +3:03
6. Lennard Kamna +3:20
7. Bruno Armirail +3:22
8. Andreas Leknessund +3:30
9. Thymen Arensman +4:09
10. Laurens De Plus +4:32

1. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
2. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) "
3. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) +0:25
4. Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla) "
5. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma) +1:03
6. Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) +1:03
7. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +1:16
8. Einer Rubio (Movistar) "
9. Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) "
10. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) "

"They may have dropped him today, but Primoz Roglic is far from out of it," says Robbie McEwen. Wise words from the former rider, who is part of Eurosport's commentary and punditry team. The Slovenian limited his loses and still took third place. Let's see where things stand once the new GC standings are confirmed. But we should remember that it was Jumbo-Visma who rode all day and set up their leader, only for him to fail to pull the trigger. Lack of form or a chink in the armour?

That was Joao Almeida's first ever stage win on the Giro having come runner-up on four occasions from 2020 and 2021. Thomas may have despatched Roglic, but it was Almeida's UAE team who dictated play on Monte Bondone and the Portuguese who's initial move saw him drop the GC favourites before Thomas's counter-attack. The 25-year-old took a well deserved win - but Thomas will be pleased with his day's work, too.

The younger buck had the superior kick in the sprint and it was the Portugese rider who denied Thomas a maiden Giro stage by winning a first one of his own. But the Welshman will settle for the pink jersey and a huge psychological blow to his big rival Primoz Roglic, who comes home for third place ahead of Eddie Dunbar around 25 seconds in arrears.

Thomas leads the duo under the banner. The gradient has eased now so it's going to be a mano-a-mano battle between the best young rider in white and the grizzled veteran and former Tour de France winner. Behind, Kuss has peeled off and it's just Roglic and Dunbar battling to limit their losses.

Thomas takes off his sunglasses and slides them into the back of his helmet - he means business. But it's Almeida who then comes forward for a pull, with the first signs of pain appearing across the face of Thomas. The Welshman should be in pink tonight - but can he take the stage win as well? There are 10-6-4 bonus seconds at the finish too.

Thomas has the bit between his teeth as he powers up this climb with a knackered Almeida in his wheel. The Portuguese is grimacing and pulling faces - but he does eventually come forward for a pull. They have 20 seconds now.

Well, well, well... Is this the first step in Geraint Thomas becoming the oldest winner of the Giro d'Italia? He and Almeida now has 15 seconds on the trio behind.

The Welsh veteran rides off in pursuit of Almeida and there's no response from Roglic, Kuss or Dunbar. Could this be a maiden Giro stage win for the Ineos leader before his 37th birthday later this week?

6KM TO GO: IT'S STARTED TO RAIN AGAIN AS ALMEIDA ATTACKS

Wet roads, thunder and lightening in the distance... and then an attack from Joao Almeida! Such a sight is something to treasure for it doesn't happen often... Kuss comes to the front to lead the chase ahead of Dunbar. The gap is there, but it's not big.

Once the Italian champion calls it a day, Eddie Dunbar sinks to the back of this group and it looks like he'll now struggle to hold on. Almeida has taken it up ahead of Kuss and Roglic, with Thomas in the Slovenian's wheel in fourth. Behind, it's Santiago Buitrago who is pacing for Bahrain team-mate Damiano Caruso as they battle to limit their losses.

This leading sextet has 30 seconds on the chasers and 1'55" on Bruno Armirail. That means we will definitely have a new race leader tonight.

After Vine peeled off Almeida stopped riding - as is so often the case - which allowed Thomas to come to the front of this six-man leading group ahead of Jumbo duo Roglic and Kuss. Italian champion Zana, who was in the break, then dances to the front with Jayco team-mate Dunbar to set a hefty tempo. This is an interesting development...

Haig, Zana and Verona have been caught and passed, so that's it for the breakaway. McNulty has popped and we're down to just six riders - with Caruso, Leknessund, Kamna, Arensman and De Plus all going backwards.