Geraint Thomas 'limited' in Vuelta a España stage 11 breakaway but vows to keep fighting

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) bounced back on stage 11 of the Vuelta a España with a gutsy yet ultimately unsuccessful breakaway performance.

The 2018 Tour de France winner made it into the break of the day alongside teammate, and stage 10 winner Filippo Ganna. The pair were significant players in the break as the leaders established a sizeable gap on the peloton, with Ganna providing a huge turn on the front of the break on the lower slopes of the final climb to La Laguna Negra.

By the time Ganna swung off the break had been reduced to just a handful of riders, including Thomas.

Jonathan Caicedo (EF Education-EasyPost) launched a stinging attack on the most difficult sections of the climb that topped out at 13 percent and it was Thomas who took responsibility for setting the pace behind the Ecuadorian. By the time the Welshman had brought Caicedo to heel the Ineos leader was at his limit and he had little in the tank when Jesús Herrada (Cofidis) accelerated clear to win the stage.

Thomas finished fifth on the stage, and while he was left disappointed he at least moved up three spots in the overall to 18th, 7:34 down on race leader Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma).

"I got in the break and ideally we wanted two of us. With me and Filippo it was a good combination," Thomas said at the finish.

"I said to him about halfway around that I’m not doing great but I don't know if the car was thinking that I was being just a bit nervous or not confident but I was being honest. Filippo really wanted to commit to me and I really appreciated that. I’m just disappointed that I couldn't finish it off. I had no real gas at the end, and was a bit limited but we gave it everything and that's what we had on the day."

Ganna's role at the Vuelta a España over the last two days has elevated Ineos' Vuelta charge. Thomas has consistently lost time to the GC riders in this year's race and is out of the frame for a podium spot. Ganna's win on stage 10 and his teamwork on stage 11 has given Ineos a footing in the race.

"Seeing him at the start reminded me of Wout van Aert at the Tour [de France] last year when he could make a break happen," Thomas said.

"He was going and the bunch was splitting. He’s got so much gas and he’s going so well, so it was great to have him there. It was probably a bit too steep for him there but like I said I couldn't quite finish it off but we’ll keep trying."

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