Thomas revisits mid-race interaction with Grossschartner: "He said: sorry, I really feel like an idiot"

Geraint Thomas revisited his comments from the last stage of the Giro d'Italia in his podcast, Watts Occuring. The Welshman was upset about the pace set by UAE-Team Emirates during the final ride to Rome, a point he made to Felix Grossschartner, who was leading at the front, during the race.

With a beer in hand, Thomas recounted his bewildered story in Rome. " You always have to expect the unexpected, but I no longer understand modern-day cycling. With twenty kilometers to go in the final stage, things broke up in the wind, what was all that about? They are all very strong at UAE-Team Emirates, but I told them they could take it a bit easier," said Thomas, whose reprimand was also caught on camera.

A few days after the Giro, he started talking about the topic again with his teammate and conversation partner Luke Rowe. "I've seen a lot of changes in the sport, but this was really the first time I've seen the peloton break up after twenty kilometers in such a stage. UAE just went hard, but I don’t know why. I just rode up to them and said: what are you doing? Just take it easy, we are riding towards Rome."

Grossschartner said "sorry" to Thomas

"We started the stage at a place that must have been important, rode to the coast and back," Thomas recalled. "On the way back, we had crosswind and Felix Grossschartner was leading. He said: oh, we just rode the same power at the front as into the wind, around 350 watts or so. But that means the guys at the back have to sprint full out, and that’s how those breaks in the peloton happen."

"I thought: come on. But he came back to me later and said: sorry, I really feel like an idiot. It wasn’t that bad, but still," said Thomas. "That pace normally only picks up on the local circuit, like it does in Paris. Eventually, it did happen, but those are the things that come with the last stage of a grand tour."