Geraint Thomas expects a Friday that is not easy

Geraint Thomas expects a Friday that is not easy

Pink jersey Geraint Thomas dwells on the stage that ended not without effort but at the same time also looks ahead to a Friday that could shake up the Giro d’Italia 2023 classification. “Once the 30 attackers left, Ben Swift did a very good job on the flat while Pavel Sivakov kept a good pace on the climbs, making sure the situation was under control. The team took a hard hit on Wednesday, but we recovered well. Friday will be the first big test. We have to adapt to the race,” said the Ineos-Grenadiers rider.

Alpine stage that leads from Borgofranco d’Ivrea to Crans Montana on Friday. It goes up the Aosta Valley to the capital where the very long ascent to the Great St. Bernard Pass begins. You ride on wide, well-paved roads for almost all of the stage. After the Col you face a long descent to Sembrancher (30 km) where you divert to Verbier and climb the unprecedented Croix de Cœur (15 km at about 9 percent). A challenging descent follows, the first part of which is narrow roadway, while the second part is wide and in excellent condition and features 6 lighted tunnels. It then runs through the Rhone valley (the only perfectly flat section of the stage) to the foot of the final climb. The last kilometers will feature a final climb (13 km at 7%) on a steep road in the first part with numerous hairpin bends. Second part less steep until the last kilometers with a slight descent leading into the final section. Final straight of 300 m uphill on asphalt 8 m wide.