At the end of a gruelling ride up Monte Pana, Geraint Thomas was visibly worn out. The usually resilient cyclist seemed to be bearing the brunt of the hard journey, having lost 33 seconds to his competitor, Dani Martínez. This resulted in Thomas slipping to third place, putting him 22 seconds behind the Colombian cyclist.
The cold, rainy weather added to Thomas’ troubles, despite the stage being shortened. His exhaustion was evident in his weary look post the finish line. A misunderstanding with his teammate Thymen Arensman further complicated the day for him. Arensman, in an attempt to chase his competitor Antonio Tiberi, finished 11 seconds ahead of Thomas, creating a possible rift within the team.
Ineos Grenadiers’ directeur sportif, Zak Dempster, revealed that faulty radio communications and television signals were to blame for the miscommunication. Arensman, left to his own devices, decided to go as fast as he could from the bottom to the top. He finished just five seconds behind Tiberi, putting him only 24 seconds behind the young Italian. This gives him a fair chance at winning the jersey in Rome.
However, this also presents a tricky situation for Ineos Grenadiers. With Arensman sixth overall and Thomas third, team strategy will become crucial in the final mountain stages.
Thomas’ Perspective
Thomas’ tough day wasn’t just about the cold weather and the steep slopes. He confessed to Cyclingnews and other media outlets at the finish line that he struggled throughout the race. “I just didn’t feel I had anything today,” he said. “The last climb was just a big grovel to the top basically.”
Despite his struggles, Thomas watched attentively as Movistar chased the breakaway on the long valley road before UAE Team Emirates set up for a late solo charge to victory. He was particularly surprised at Movistar’s early and determined chase of the break. Thomas could only watch as Martínez rode past him on the 12% gradients of Monte Pana while trying to limit his losses.
Looking Ahead
Despite the tough day, Thomas remains optimistic for the rest of the race. “Tomorrow is another day,” he said, reflecting his determination to bounce back. Dempster also acknowledged the team’s dual ambitions with Thomas and Arensman, highlighting the need for effective communication and team strategy.
He mentioned that there could have been better communication in the steep climb but dismissed it as nothing disastrous. He also pointed out the challenges of being a sports director, comparing it to playing Playstation. Dempster noted that the lack of radio or television connection was a hurdle, leaving him to rely on phone updates from another coach back home.
With longer climbs coming up in the race, Dempster expressed confidence in Thomas and Arensman’s potential to gain tactical advantages. The team will refocus and strategize to overcome the challenges, proving that a single tough day doesn’t signal the end of the race.
