Giro d'Italia: Geraint Thomas says 'all eyes will be on Tadej Pogacar' as Ineos Grenadiers name team

Updated 25/04/2024 at 12:08 GMT

Ineos Grenadiers have named their team for the upcoming Giro d'Italia, led by Britain's Geraint Thomas, who came so close to winning the overall title last year. The 2024 edition is headlined by Tadej Pogacar, but Thomas thinks that "all eyes" being on the Slovenian over "three long weeks of hard racing" could provide opportunities. Watch and stream the Giro d'Italia on Eurosport and discovery+.

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Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) admits Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is the pre-race favourite for the upcoming Giro d'Italia, but that "all eyes" being on the Slovenian could give the Brit chances to "add pressure" in the GC battle.

Thomas, 37, is beginning his 18th season in professional cycling and is looking to go one better than last year when he suffered heartbreak, losing out on the pink jersey in the penultimate-day time trial to Primoz Roglic.

Pogacar, meanwhile, appears to be in his "best ever" shape, as he bids for a momentous Giro-Tour double.

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“My preparation has gone well and I’m feeling in a great place ahead of the start," Thomas said, who finished 13th at last week's Tour of the Alps.

"We have a strong line-up and there is a good bond with this group. 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.

“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. 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.”

Thomas - like Pogacar - is aiming to feature in both the Giro and the Tour, and says the beginning of his season - in which he has only made four starts - has been geared to this objective.

He added: “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.

"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.”

Thomas will have some powerful domestiques supporting his fight for a first maglia rosa, with the likes of two-time world time trial champion Filippo Ganna and Dutchman Thymen Arensman in the ranks.

Ineos' director of racing Steve Cummings shared more on the team's approach ahead of the first Grand Tour of the year.

He said: “We’ve selected a strong, versatile line-up for this year’s Giro d’Italia which will enable us to race the way we love.

"It will be three long weeks of full gas, hard racing and we know where we need to put the pressure on, and where we will be able to fight for opportunities.

“In Geraint, we have one of the most experienced riders in the peloton to lead the charge to Rome. He is a proven winner, a brilliant bike rider and a great leader.

"In the general classification, we have three riders who have all finished in the top 10 at this race so we go into it feeling confident in the depth and experience within the group.

"There will be the battle for GC with six summit finishes but there will also be plenty of chances of stage wins especially with two time trials."

The Giro d'Italia gets underway on May 4, ending in Rome on May 26.

Stream the cycling season, including all three Grand Tours, live on discovery+

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