Geraint Thomas has said that this year’s Giro d’Italia “might be the last time I race for GC” after he secured third place on Saturday. The Welshman, who turned 38 on Saturday, has said that he is likely to retire at the end of next season and believes that this year’s Giro could be his last as a team leader. Thomas finished seventh on Stage 20 to take third place overall.
On his 38th birthday, Geraint Thomas has said that this year’s Giro d’Italia may be his last as a team leader.
The Welshman, who has said he is “95 per cent” likely to retire at the end of next season, will have to settle for third overall at the Giro after Saturday’s Stage 20, which involved two summits of Monte Grappa.
Tadej Pogacar once again stormed clear of everyone as he continued his one-sided procession to the maglia rosa.
“I think this might be the last time I race for GC [general classification],” Thomas said to BBC Sport Wales after securing third place at the Giro on Saturday, barring accidents on the final stage.
“But I’ve been saying that for a few years now and I’m still racing so who knows? Certainly, I have to savour these moments now. I could retire in Rome tomorrow to be honest, but I’ve still got another year and a half left and I am enjoying it.
“When you know the end is coming, you appreciate what you’re doing more because you know you’re privileged to do what we do.”
Thomas was runner-up at last year’s race and has led Ineos Grenadiers, formerly Team Sky, at many of the sport’s biggest races, winning the Tour de France in 2018.
A seventh-placed finish in the mountainous penultimate stage of the Giro effectively secured a third-placed finish in the general classification.
Thomas is 28 seconds behind former team-mate Dani Martinez, and more than 10 minutes adrift of Tadej Pogacar.
The 25-year-old Slovenian took his sixth stage victory of the race after another climbing clinic on Saturday.
Pogacar has all but sealed his victory and a first Giro title on debut.
“Tadej’s just a different level and then it was a big fight for second and third,” said Thomas.
“I’m happy to get third. I was gunning for second, rode as best I could and gave everything every day, which is all I can ask for.
“A lot of people have talked about my age for a few years now and I’ve just thought ‘Nah, it’s an old cliche, it’s just a number’ but it really is. If you really commit to something and your mind is right, you can do it for a long time.
“But I’m feeling every one of those years at the minute. It’s been a long old three weeks.”
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