Geraint Thomas plays 'waiting game' on quest for pink jersey

Ineos Grenadiers forfeit race lead to focus on testing final week

Another brutal week at the Giro d’Italia, and yet the general classification is still largely the same as it was after the first week, save for those who have had to leave the race due to illness or injury.

The reason behind this unchanging state of affairs is clear, however: a seriously tough final week of racing that sees the peloton tackle three mountaintop finishes and then a mountain time trial on the penultimate stage.

This is what Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) was expecting after a weekend which saw the Welshman concede his pink jersey to Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) due to the latter escaping up the road with a break which took 18 minutes.

Thomas maintained his two-second advantage over the main threat to his GC hopes, Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), and 22 seconds on João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates).