'Everyone always doubts me' - Geraint Thomas on pushing Evenepoel to the line

INEOS Grenadierss British rider Geraint Thomas competes during the ninth stage of the Giro dItalia 2023 cycling race a 35 km individual time trial between Savignano sul Rubicone and Cesena on May 14 2023 Photo by Luca Bettini AFP Photo by LUCA BETTINIAFP via Getty Images
Geraint Thomas en route to second place at the Giro d'Italia stage 9 time trial (Image credit: Getty Images)

So near, yet so far. Geraint Thomas (Ineos) was in a decidedly mixed mood after stage 9's time trial at the Giro d’Italia, where he came within a whisker of beating favourite Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), but ended up a scant second behind the Belgian star.

Thomas’ agonisingly close near-miss, though, has seen the Briton confirm his strong early form in the Giro and puts him in second overall, 45 seconds on Evenepoel, and two seconds ahead of Primoz Roglic.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.