Geraint Thomas wants a do-over at the Giro d'Italia.

This year he may be up against two-time Tour de France winner and world number one Tadej Pogachar, but at least there will be no "ridiculous" time trial up the mountain this year.

In 2023, Thomas had a 26-second lead over Primoš Roglic before the final time trial of the Giro d'Italia, but lost 40 seconds to his Slovenian rival on the 18.6km Monte Russali. It was a bitter blow.

At a pre-race press conference with Cycling News and other media, Thomas revealed that he had suffered from a urinary tract infection in the first three months of 2023, but that he had been "much better" this year.

So when Thomas was asked if he lost first place because Pogachar was on the starting line, he did not say so.

"Of course, I don't think we lost first place. Rather, the pressure is off because everyone expects him to win. Everyone expects him to win."

"There's no doubt the race is different from last year, but we've come here in good condition. But it's great that we've come here in good condition and now we just have to do what we can do."

"I've been saying lately that he's a phenomenal bike rider, probably one of the best ever. They have a strong team, but so do we, and there are a lot of other good riders. It's the Giro, so there's going to be a lot of good and a lot of bad. So I'm excited."

The 2024 Giro d'Italia route is also different from last year in that the first mountains come quickly, including the Colle della Maddalena (20km to go) on stage 1 and the Santuario di Oropa (summit finish) on stage 2, and the two long time trial (a 40.6km time trial on stage 7 that ends with a small climb and a 31.2km test on stage 14 that ends flat).

"Every Grand Tour is hard, but this year is generally less steep, which suits me... I think [the two long time trials] will be an advantage.

"I think you need to ride well from start to finish. Traditionally, for example, in the Tour, the first four or five days are flat. So it's good to be tired in the peloton. The important thing in the Giro is to be strong at the end. Obviously the second stage is important, but it's not everything.

American Magnus Sheffield will make his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia, and after finishing second to Remco Evenpole in the Volta ao Algarve time trial in February, he will not only have two time trial results to show for it, but he will also be able to use these stages to show the relative strength of the team and help the Ineos leaders.

"I came here with great ambition to support the leaders of G and Timen [Arensmann] and to do the time trial, and if there is a chance to go for the stage, this is another great ambition. [Our team is strong in time trials. Filippo Ganna, Thomas, and former time trial world champion Tobias Foss are in the Giro team.

"We can share information, try different equipment, try different pacing strategies. There is a lot we can do. I know how important the team and my teammates around me are"

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The Giro d'Italia starts on Saturday.

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