Geraint Thomas reveals he didn't want to ride the Tour as a support rider for Bernal
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ByEurosport
Updated 09/09/2020 at 12:59 GMT
Geraint Thomas was a surprise omission from the Ineos Grenadiers line-up at the Tour de France along with Chris Froome, but will compete at the Giro d'Italia. Thomas is currently competing at Tirreno-Adriatico, and has revealed that his absence from the Tour is partly because he didn't want to be a support rider for Egan Bernal
Geraint Thomas
Image credit: Getty Images
Geraint Thomas was surprisingly left out of his team's line-up for the Tour de France, along with fellow Brit and former champion Chris Froome.
But the Welshman has this week revealed that part of the reason for his absence from the Ineos Grenadiers line-up at the Tour is because he didn't want to ride in a support role "just for the team" as Egan Bernal targets the yellow jersey.
However, Thomas also says he is excited to lead the Ineos Grenadiers field in the Giro d'Italia and has wanted to compete in it again since crashing out of the Grand Tour event in 2017 and will be prioritising a good run in Italy.
"I've always wanted to come back and this year seemed the right time to do it," he told BBC Sport Wales.
"Obviously to start with I was disappointed because the Tour was the main goal. But not being selected - I wouldn't put it in those sort of words because I could go there and do a job.
"But at the same time I'm at the stage of my career where I want to go to races and try to perform for myself.
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"I don't want to go - without sounding bad - to go and just ride for the team. I want to be fighting for the win myself.
"The Giro is something I've always wanted to do well in. Especially ever since crashing out in 2017 when I felt I was in really good shape."
After missing the Tour, Thomas is currently competing in the Tirreno-Adriatico and is hoping to be in peak condition by the start of the Giro on October 3.
"It's not like I was in terrible shape. It was just lacking that last little bit. What the extra bit of training, the extra race days will give me, we're confident I'll be there 100% ready to go at the start of the Giro."
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