Ineos Grenadiers’ Geraint Thomas could also be a late addition to the staff’s Milan-San Remo line-up on Saturday earlier than he heads to the Volta a Catalunya subsequent week.
Speaking on his Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast, the Welshman instructed that although the staff shouldn’t be totally finalised simply but, he’s anticipating to be a part of the squad lining up in Pavia on the weekend.
“I’ve obtained Catalunya for positive, after which hopefully, probably, San Remo as effectively, which is a late addition to the schedule,” he mentioned.
“Hopefully the staff might need been chosen by the point this pod goes out, however, all being effectively, I’ll be there.”
Thomas isn’t on the official entry listing, however Ineos are but to substantiate their remaining line-up for Saturday’s race.
Ineos are anticipated to kind their Milan-San Remo plan round Italy’s Filippo Ganna, who’s coming off the again of a powerful week and second general at Tirreno-Adriatico, and has beforehand been a key animator of La Primavera, ending second in 2023.
“When you consider the staff now, after the week that Pippo’s had, you’d be exhausting pressed to not construct the entire staff round him, simply go all in for Pippo,” Thomas mentioned of the staff’s strategy.
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“The manner he’s going, second in Tirreno, climbing like a climber though he’s 80+ kilos, it’s unbelievable actually, the week he’s had.”
If the staff does go all-in on Ganna, including a climber like Thomas may assist to contend in opposition to the anticipated onslaught from large race favorite Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
“[Ganna] is unquestionably going to be protected, whether or not we have now one other man, we may probably have Kwiato and Axel Laurance, or do they construct the entire staff round Pippo? It will probably be an fascinating one, the place they go together with that, however hopefully, I’ll be part of it.”
Thomas lately posted on Instagram that he was driving the Cipressa in a coaching experience. A begin on Saturday could be his sixth and remaining participation on the race, together with his newest earlier begin coming in 2016
Milan-San Remo would mark Thomas’ return to racing after a busy early season of racing that included each the Tour Down Under and Volta ao Algarve. He’s lately been away coaching and getting again into prime race form forward of the important thing a part of his remaining season.
“I’m wanting ahead to racing now after being sat right here watching Tirreno and Paris-Nice,” he mentioned. “It helped with the coaching really, I used to be like ‘oh yeah I have to get caught into this’, it was motivation. The boys are driving so effectively as effectively, which I’m positive we’ll get onto.
“I’m feeling drained now although, it’s been an enormous block, chipped off some weight, accomplished some good efforts as effectively, so I’m gaining energy, shrinking, good mixture. But simply wanting ahead to getting caught into some racing.”
The 38-year-old is retiring on the finish of 2025, so that is his final likelihood to participate in among the large Classics and Monuments, and certainly this is able to be his final-ever race in Italy, together with his 12 months presently revolving round a remaining Tour de France begin and a Tour of Britain farewell.
In the podcast, he mirrored on his need to be racing, and the way he may address giving it up solely, particularly after his Ineos Grenadiers teammates put in robust performances throughout Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.
“I used to be watching considering ‘I want I used to be there’, as a result of particularly after they boys are driving so effectively you simply need to be there with them, in amongst it, and a part of it,” he mentioned.
“I did begin considering ‘jeez, what’s subsequent 12 months going to be like after I’m not racing in any respect?’ Will I see it otherwise? Which I believe I’ll, as a result of not less than now I’m beginning to really feel a bit fitter and like I can really do it, whereas subsequent 12 months for positive I’ll be heavier and unfit so I’ll be like ‘effectively, I couldn’t do it anyway’.”
Cyclingnews has reached out to Ineos Grenadiers for affirmation of Thomas’ choice for San Remo, with an official staff announcement anticipated within the coming days.