Video: Geraint Thomas’s road to the Giro d’Italia

It’s been a couple of years since there were any British riders in the Giro d’Italia. However, this year’s edition will feature Adam Yates (Orica-Scott), Hugh Carthy (Cannondale-Drapac) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), the subject of the video above.

Chris Froome less-than-generously musters the single word summation ‘Welsh’ for the man who will is sharing team leadership with Mikel Landa.

"I've got a massive few weeks in front of me,” Thomas told the BBC. “I'm just looking forward to racing now. It feels like we've been talking about it forever. It's uncharted territory really. I've always been helping other guys so if I do blow up now it doesn't really matter. Hopefully it all goes well."

Geraint Thomas shares his winter training and diet tips with road.cc

Sky have also produced a (slightly muffled) video about Landa, who says he’s a little more confident this year than last.

FEATURE: @MikelLandaMeana on being co-leader, changing his training & why it may be his year at #Giro100

Full  > https://t.co/ngDe5RDRkn pic.twitter.com/TQH1e2f8LA

— Team Sky  (@TeamSky) May 2, 2017

"Last year was very different. I started with an illness so I couldn’t do all the base work that I’ve done this year. I’m more confident.

“And it definitely helps a lot to have been here a year now. I know my team-mates better and it’s so important to have good communication with them and know how they ride. That can help me.”

Landa says that he is happy to share team leadership with Thomas.

"Having a co-leader is great because we can play our tactics. G is a very good climber but is maybe a rider who moves better in mid-mountain stages and in time trials, whereas maybe I’m better at uphill finishes, so if we stay together and make a good plan then hopefully we can work well together.”

Thomas agrees.

"We can ride off each other. We get on well and I think it can work well. As we get into that last week there will certainly be gaps and one will be ahead of the other. Depending on how we're both feeling, I'd happily help him and vice versa. We'll see how it goes."

As for who they’ll be up against, Thomas sees Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali as being the favourites for the race with himself and his team-mate a little way behind.

"Nibali and Quintana have won this race before, they've got all that experience and, for sure, they're the favourites. Myself and Landa, we have a chance – but we're not at that level, I don't think."