Thomas to go for 'very top step' at Giro

Welshman and Ineos ready for duel with Tadej Pogačar, reports Adam Becket

Ineos Grenadiers are aiming for the "very top step" at this month's Giro d'Italia with their leader, Geraint Thomas.

The British squad believe the 37-year-old, last year's runner-up, can do "something very special" as he targets both the Giro and the Tour de France for the first time since 2017.

Thomas spent last week at the Tour of the Alps, his final race before the Italian Grand Tour, where he suffered in the icy rain and finished 13th overall, more than five minutes down on the winner, LidlTrek's Juan Pedro López.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly, the Welshman said his lead-in to this year's Giro has been "a lot smoother" than last season, when he had a urinary tract infection, missed 50% of his training, but still finished second in Rome.