'I had the legs to be there': Geraint Thomas laments missed opportunity to take time in Giro crosswinds
Geraint Thomas says a bit of bad positioning cost him as Quick-Step split the bunch in the finale of Giro d'Italia stage three

Geraint Thomas at the 2017 Giro d'Italia (Sunada)

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas regrets being in the wrong place when the Giro d'Italia's stage three exploded en route to Cagliari today. He says that he missed a chance to gain 10 seconds on his rivals.
A group of around 10 powered free with 10 kilometres remaining. Thomas, who had been at the front, lost position just before the move went and missed a chance to gain precious time.
>>> Five talking points from stage three of the Giro d’Italia
Thomas warmed down on his bike and climbed off to explain to reporters waiting by the Sky’s black bus.
"Yeah, it was only 10 seconds in the end, and come the mountains 10 seconds is nothing, but it would've been good for the morale to be there," Thomas said.
"I had the legs to be there, but it was a bit of just missing it going into the roundabout."
Most of team Quick-Step surged free with eventual stage winner and new race leader Fernando Gaviria. Thomas rode at the front in chase with his team, but the situation settled given no-one in the front group posed a major overall threat for the next three weeks.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It could've been worse, it was only Bob Jungels up there on the GC. Still it's a bit, you always want to be in the front," added Thomas.
"That final was really nervous. There were crosswinds in the last 15K, I was well positioned until the roundabout, I was knocked, braked and then you lose 20 positions.
"Out of the roundabout I was just too far back and made a big effort to get across, and almost made it, but didn't quite get there."
The Belgian Quick-Step team muscled ahead, the same team that Thomas regularly faced when he led Team Sky in the Classics.
"Yeah, for sure, we knew something was going to happen along there, someone was going to try, everyone wanted to be there, and I was there until that little roundabout. I just lost my position there. That's when it all went Pete Tong [wrong]," Thomas said.
"That's their forte. They are always there in the crosswinds, fair play to them. They ride well as a team and have the horsepower to do that, so chapeau to them."
Thomas finished in a group 13 seconds back with other classification favourites including Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ).
The stage closed the big start, the first three days, in Sardinia. Teams fly to Palermo and enjoy a rest day on Monday. On Tuesday, the Giro re-starts with its first summit finish on Mount Etna.
"We stayed out of trouble and missed any mishaps. We will see on Tuesday, that is going to be interesting. Everyone is going to be testing each other. It could be a bit stop/start if it is windy at the top.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published