Rod Ellingworth: Geraint Thomas is still performing at a high level, and he’s still world class

Two weeks into the Giro d’Italia and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) has once more proved that he’s still a Grand Tour contender. The Welshman has put in a resolute performance so far and he will be determined to finish the job during what’s set to be an arduous final week. Heading into the pivotal stage 16 GCN caught up with Ineos Grenadiers’ Deputy Team Principal Rod Ellingworth to talk about the race, losing Tao Geohegan Hart, and Thomas’ main rivals for the final week.

GCN: If you were given this position at the start of the race would you have taken it?

Rod Ellingworth: Yes. I think anyone would. We weren’t 100 percent sure with Geraint because he had a few problems coming into the race but when we talked to him in the build up towards the race he was quite sure that he was going to make it. We know that this race is always back-ended so you’ve always got to be good in the final week, and that gave him an extra couple of weeks to be in top form. He’s proven that he’s done a good job, and fair play to the guy he’s rode really well.

GCN: How does losing Tao Geohegan Hart change things for the team in terms of tactics and approach?

Rod Ellingworth: That changes the game for us quite a lot. Tao came in as quite possibly the red-hot favourite in many ways. Him not being here has made a big difference to the team because having an extra body up there in the high mountains is always quite a key factor.

GCN: Does it change your approach towards taking on Roglič?

Rod Ellingworth: Well, you can never underestimate Roglič. He’s won Grand Tours in the past, he’s proven, and he can time trial. For him and for Geraint they’re perhaps in some very similar form, maybe, but we’ll see this week. It’s going to be quite different but having Tao around would have given us numbers, and that would have made things quite different. Geraint is still fairly confident in what he can do though.

GCN: Do you think stage 16 will be the indicator as to who has the better form, between Roglič and Thomas?

Rod Elllingworth: I think so. That final climb is going to be key but then again everyone has been saying that so far with every uphill finish we’ve had, so who knows. The weather has had such an impact on the race so far but at some point there are going to be some moves from the GC riders. My gut feeling is that no one will wait for the final time trial. We know from history that anything can happen in the Giro, and it’s so back loaded but when you think about Richard Carapaz last year, and how solid he looked for the win before getting it wrong on the final day. All the little attacks caught up with him but I think that Geraint has massive experience, he’s motivated and he’s strong in the mind. These are big areas where I think he has the upper hand. There’s going to be some good bike racing.

GCN: Do you think it’s a two-horse race or are you also looking at Damiano Caruso and João Almeida?

Rod Elllingworth: With Almeida, that guy has been knocking on the door for ages, so why isn’t this his turn? You can’t underestimate him. Then Caruso, he’s never going to sit still, is he? He’s going to try and take his chance. He might not be as strong as the other guys man-on-man but he’s crafty. He’ll take a chance but the real threat comes from Roglič, Almeida and Geraint. But with the Giro you can never say never, so anyone in the top five or six could be in with a chance.

GCN: There’s been reports that Geraint and Luke Rowe have both signed contract extensions with the team, is that something you can confirm?

Rod Elllingworth: Time will tell. Like anything, there's a lot of rumours around.

GCN: Do you want them to stay?

Rod Elllingworth: For Geraint he’s our road captain and he’s been in the team since the beginning. He’s got a great personality within the team. Much depends on what he wants actually in terms of if he wants to continue his career. He’s still performing at a really high level, and he’s still world class. The thing with Geraint is that he’s a good character and a brilliant personality in our sport. He’s been a brilliant role model for everyone in our team, and from what I understand a lot of guys and these young lads in the peloton want to talk to him. I think that he finds it quite surprising that they tell him how they’re feeling, and their next races. But that’s because he’s a good guy. A lot of people just want to chat to him and want to get his opinion.