‘All I’m thinking about now is the Giro’ – Thomas focused on first Grand Tour of the season

Geraint Thomas said that all he is, “thinking about now is the Giro,” as he discussed the forthcoming Grand Tours this season.

Thomas is to compete at the Tour of the Alps in preparation for the upcoming Italian Grand Tour, the first of the season.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider was asked if he was taking into account the Tour de France as he readied himself for the season, and he told WielerFlits that his main focus was on the Giro.

“Slightly but I guess all I’m thinking about now is the Giro,” Thomas said. “I tried to take it a bit steadier in the build-up and then we deal with the ‘after the Giro’ after the Giro.

“Obviously [last year’s Giro d’Italia] didn’t end the best way but with the start of the season I had I think it was still a good one, but we’ll see what this year brings.”

Thomas came second last year, behind Primoz Roglic, and led the race for eight days before being usurped by the Slovenian after a time trial, but last year he was suffered from a UTI infection.

This time, he appears healthier in the run-up to the event.

He said his form is, “slightly better hopefully. I have had a bit more consistency so looking forward to a good one.

“It’s good timing you know, with two weeks after this until the start of the Giro just to fine-tune things. But a good, hard five days of racing in the mountains is always good.”

Discussing tactics for the Tour of the Alps, Thomas was circumspect in his ambitions as he looked to discover how well set he was.

“Similar to last year, we’re looking forward to it. Some good hard racing, it’s certainly a tough race with the climbs and things, so yeah it should be a good one,” he answered.

“I’ll take what I can, every race you want to get the best result so we’ll see how the legs are and take any opportunity as they come.”

‘All I’m thinking about now is the Giro’ – Thomas focused on first Grand Tour of the season

Geraint Thomas said that all he is, “thinking about now is the Giro,” as he discussed the forthcoming Grand Tours this season.

Thomas is to compete at the Tour of the Alps in preparation for the upcoming Italian Grand Tour, the first of the season.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider was asked if he was taking into account the Tour de France as he readied himself for the season, and he told WielerFlits that his main focus was on the Giro.

“Slightly but I guess all I’m thinking about now is the Giro,” Thomas said. “I tried to take it a bit steadier in the build-up and then we deal with the ‘after the Giro’ after the Giro.

“Obviously [last year’s Giro d’Italia] didn’t end the best way but with the start of the season I had I think it was still a good one, but we’ll see what this year brings.”

Thomas came second last year, behind Primoz Roglic, and led the race for eight days before being usurped by the Slovenian after a time trial, but last year he was suffered from a UTI infection.

This time, he appears healthier in the run-up to the event.

He said his form is, “slightly better hopefully. I have had a bit more consistency so looking forward to a good one.

“It’s good timing you know, with two weeks after this until the start of the Giro just to fine-tune things. But a good, hard five days of racing in the mountains is always good.”

Discussing tactics for the Tour of the Alps, Thomas was circumspect in his ambitions as he looked to discover how well set he was.

“Similar to last year, we’re looking forward to it. Some good hard racing, it’s certainly a tough race with the climbs and things, so yeah it should be a good one,” he answered.

“I’ll take what I can, every race you want to get the best result so we’ll see how the legs are and take any opportunity as they come.”

Zeeman to step down as Team Visma Lease-a-Bike sporting director

Team Visma Lease-a-Bike’s sporting director Merijn Zeeman will leave at the end of the season to become CEO at Dutch football club AZ Alkmaar.

Zeeman has been at Team Visma Lease-a-Bike for almost 13 years and has helped rebuild the team after a doping scandal forced the team to rebrand in 2012.

During Zeeman’s tenure, the team has enjoyed great success in Grand Tours with Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Sepp Kuss all picking up victories.

Zeeman is also believed to have been instrumental in the transition of Wout van Aert from cyclocross to becoming a leading figure in Classics and one-day events.

In 2014, it was known as Belkin, before becoming LottoNL-Jumbo, Jumbo-Visma, and now Team Visma Lease-a-Bike.

“Precisely because I have this great organisation so close to my heart. We have come a long way and together we have made sure that we have become one of the most successful teams in recent years.

“I am incredibly proud of that. Our culture with our people and our innovative approach has created an amazing development in which we were able to write history together, with the success in 2023 as the absolute highlight.

“Team Visma Lease-a-Bike is my family, which I have lovingly put my heart and soul into for 13 years. But I also believe that it is good for everyone’s development to look for new challenges and stimuli over time.

“Continuing my career at football club AZ is my next step and I dare to take that step because I leave our strong professional organisation, led by my good friend Richard Plugge, in the capable hands of my colleagues. But first we want to write history together, also in 2024.”

Team manager Plugge hints there could be a managerial restructure at the team when Zeeman departs for his new role which begins on December 1.

Plugge said: “Merijn’s departure hurts on the one hand, but at the same time we have great confidence in our organisation, which is solid as a rock. In the coming months we will clarify how our organisation will be further structured towards the future and, as always, we will start internally.

“Of course we will also do everything together to make 2024 a successful year. We are now looking forward to that even more.”

Zeeman to step down as Team Visma Lease-a-Bike sporting director

Team Visma Lease-a-Bike’s sporting director Merijn Zeeman will leave at the end of the season to become CEO at Dutch football club AZ Alkmaar.

Zeeman has been at Team Visma Lease-a-Bike for almost 13 years and has helped rebuild the team after a doping scandal forced the team to rebrand in 2012.

During Zeeman’s tenure, the team has enjoyed great success in Grand Tours with Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Sepp Kuss all picking up victories.

Zeeman is also believed to have been instrumental in the transition of Wout van Aert from cyclocross to becoming a leading figure in Classics and one-day events.

In 2014, it was known as Belkin, before becoming LottoNL-Jumbo, Jumbo-Visma, and now Team Visma Lease-a-Bike.

“Precisely because I have this great organisation so close to my heart. We have come a long way and together we have made sure that we have become one of the most successful teams in recent years.

“I am incredibly proud of that. Our culture with our people and our innovative approach has created an amazing development in which we were able to write history together, with the success in 2023 as the absolute highlight.

“Team Visma Lease-a-Bike is my family, which I have lovingly put my heart and soul into for 13 years. But I also believe that it is good for everyone’s development to look for new challenges and stimuli over time.

“Continuing my career at football club AZ is my next step and I dare to take that step because I leave our strong professional organisation, led by my good friend Richard Plugge, in the capable hands of my colleagues. But first we want to write history together, also in 2024.”

Team manager Plugge hints there could be a managerial restructure at the team when Zeeman departs for his new role which begins on December 1.

Plugge said: “Merijn’s departure hurts on the one hand, but at the same time we have great confidence in our organisation, which is solid as a rock. In the coming months we will clarify how our organisation will be further structured towards the future and, as always, we will start internally.

“Of course we will also do everything together to make 2024 a successful year. We are now looking forward to that even more.”