Geraint Thomas is not afraid of Pogi! INEOS (with Ganna and A time trial plan) is willing to do everything it takes for the pink jersey

The press release for INEOS Grenadiers’ Giro lineup clearly laid out the ambitions of Thomas and his team. "Tadej Pogacar, with his strong team, is of course the favorite. This will undoubtedly shift the race dynamics. However, it also means he will be the center of attention throughout the grueling three weeks," Thomas explained. "Our strategy is to race aggressively and seize every chance to ramp up the pressure and gain time."

At Wednesday’s press conference, the 2018 Tour de France champion appeared exceptionally focused. He also mentioned feeling stronger than last year. "I struggled with an infection up until last year's Tour of Catalonia, but now I'm stronger in training. I’ve done everything possible to be in top form." He also isn’t ready to concede the pink jersey to Pogacar. "Everyone expects him to win, so the pressure isn’t on us. The most important thing was to get here in peak condition; I haven’t thought much beyond that. However, it will be a massive challenge. Pogacar is an exceptional rider, perhaps the best ever, but we’re up for the challenge. The Giro is unpredictable, and anything can happen, for better or worse."

Don't be distracted by Thomas' results prior to the Giro. A thirteenth place in the Tour of the Alps might not have been very inspiring, but the days of peaking during preparation races are long gone for Thomas. "I've been approaching it this way for eighteen years; that's just how I've always been. But things are different in the peloton now. The big guys are performing all year round, and that's great for them. I take a different approach, starting the year off a bit less intensely with the Tour de France in mind. Riders still peak for races, but I do nothing substantial until my big goal. That's also part of the plan, to then ride the Tour. A bit old school, yes."

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Okay, so last year's runner-up is in shape. But how exactly will he challenge Pogacar? It starts with the Giro's course. The Welshman is happier with it than last year's. "I'll really know over three weeks, but it looks good. Two solid time trials, and no silly time trial on a steep mountain this year. The climbs are a bit less steep, which should suit me better. And it's good that we get some tricky stages in the first week, hopefully reducing some of the chaos. We should be able to take advantage of the time trials, although Tadej is also very strong there. Hopefully, the weather will be a bit better than last year, that's always the biggest challenge. In the third week of the Giro, you always have to be at your best."

For the time trials - one of 40.6 kilometers on day seven and one of 31.6 kilometers on day fourteen - INEOS has a lot of expertise. Thomas can hold his own against the clock, but with Filippo Ganna and Magnus Sheffield, there are two more time trial powerhouses on the list. "And then we shouldn't forget Tobias Foss," Sheffield adds when asked. "You can also give each other feedback," Ganna continues. "As long as you give the right feedback," jokes Thomas finally. Sheffield, seriously: "Our team is very strong in the time trial and I see that as an advantage. It's not an individual discipline for us. We share information, test different materials and pacing strategies... In that way, we can achieve a lot, and it shows how important your teammates are around you."

In the third week, several challenging mountain stages await, traditionally the decisive phase of the race. Thomas mentioned in his podcast with Luke Rowe that the fifteenth stage to Livigno and the subsequent rest day will take place at an altitude of 2,300 meters. Visma | Lease a Bike previously pointed out altitude as a potential weakness for Pogacar; does INEOS share this view? Thomas responds, "I believe he's still very strong at high altitudes. He may favor finishes below 2,000 meters, but it won't significantly impact him. If our team performs well, there could be stages where he might show vulnerability, but such occasions are rare. It did occur at the 2023 Tour de France, when Jonas Vingegaard capitalized on it."

The term 'aggressive' echoes repeatedly across all answers. This isn’t just applicable to Thomas but extends to the entire team, who are granted the liberty to make their mark. For instance, Ganna is focusing on sprints, and Jhonatan Narváez plays a crucial role in transition stages. "We're not only focused on the general classification but also on creating opportunities for others. This approach boosts morale, as it prevents the team from feeling like they're just sacrificing for me. Even if victories don't come immediately, it's good to race aggressively and to go through fire for each other. With that, we want to animate the race and thus gain confidence," says Thomas.

Sheffield confirms that he’s not limited to just supporting roles for the three weeks. "I’m here with high ambitions, primarily to support our leaders G and Thymen (Arensman). Besides aiming to excel in the time trials, chasing a stage win is also a significant goal," states the 22-year-old American. Ganna notes that, in addition to time trials, he has the freedom to compete in sprint stages. "I’m here to back G, so we need to be opportunistic. I’ll seize any chances to sprint, though it’s challenging against the top sprinters. I’ve trained on the track, but at 84 kg, the climbs are tough. It’s going to be hard, but we aim to attack whenever possible and not finish in Rome feeling like we could have achieved more."

It is precisely this mindset with which Thomas also wants to race for the classification. For someone who has already won the Tour once, finished on the podium twice, and was second in the Giro last year, only victory adds value to his resume. When asked by this website if he is willing to risk everything for the pink, he nods seriously. "If I have the choice now, I would go for it. I finished second last year, so I'd rather go all out for the win than for a podium place. That would still be nice, but I'm at a stage in my career where I've already achieved a lot. Let's just go for it. I won't attack just for the sake of attacking, but I will when the finale is there and we feel good. The classification is the goal, but we can take advantage of certain situations along the way. That's how we want to win."

Geraint Thomas
Thymen Arensman
Tobias Foss
Filippo Ganna
Ben Swift
Connor Swift
Jhonatan Narváez
Magnus Sheffield