2023-05-24 15:34:00
Welshman Geraint Thomas could be the oldest winner.
Caorle. “A lot of people have already written me off. But I proved them wrong last year,” said Geraint Thomas and declared his start at this year’s Giro d’Italia, his fifth overall, to be a “bonus round”. And this could end on Sunday in Rome with a historic coronation. Because the Welshman, who is celebrating his 37th birthday today, claimed the pink jersey on the 17th flat stage to Caorle (Italian Alberto Dainese sprinted to victory on the day) and could in the final, including the climb to the Drei Zinnen and the time trial on Saturday, to the oldest overall winner of the Tour of Italy.
Just at the Giro, who lost his top favorite early on (Corona) with young star Remco Evenepoel, the calm and experience of an old master could now be decisive. Thomas unwound his program unimpressed by cases of infection or the fall of his Ineos captain Tao Geoghegan Hart (11th stage), gave up Rosa in between to save himself and the team energy, and then was at Monte Bondone when Primož Rogličs slumped on the spot.
All good things come in threes
In Italy, Thomas, who has already finished on the podium three times (Triumph 2018), would come full circle, after all, this is where he once started his professional career. “The Giro is simply beautiful. I had to come out with falls the last two times so I wanted to come back. The third time might bring luck,” says the veteran. In 2017 he collided with a police motorcycle and in 2020 he was knocked down by a colleague’s water bottle. The fact that he climbed Mount Etna despite a fractured pelvis proved his ability to suffer. Coupled with perseverance and patience, Thomas could celebrate in Rome this year. (swiss)
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