Geraint Thomas managed to survive another tough stage on Thursday, but there are still two more to come for the leader of INEOS Grenadiers. In the post-race press conference, he spoke about it calmly.
Firstly, the way Thomas took his seat was quite remarkable, with something unusual in his mouth and hands. What was it, you ask? "Welsh cakes. You should all try them," he said on his birthday, before shifting to more serious topics. "I'm not thinking about the end result. I've won the Tour, so I see this as a bonus. At 37, I should be sitting on the beach, not still doing all of this."
Thomas is not surprised that both Primoz Roglic and now Joao Almeida have lost some time. "We are evenly matched. Primoz didn't feel great on Tuesday, and now it's Joao. It could happen to me as well, but I do expect it to come down to the last day."
The fact that Roglic performed better again towards Val di Zoldo comes as no surprise to the man from Wales. "Primoz was a lot better, and this was the Roglic I expected. It wasn't a surprise to me, although they did play some games by sticking to the back in the beginning. It was a tough day, especially because of the heat. It feels like a completely different race compared to the first two weeks, but I'm happy to be up there in front."
The INEOS Grenadiers leader is not worried. "For me, it's just a big bonus, and I'm enjoying it a lot. Your career has an expiration date, so you have to enjoy the good moments. That's what I'm doing now in the pink jersey, and I'll do everything I can to keep it. But I don't put pressure on myself to achieve that goal. The Italian fans were also amazing, and I'm very grateful for that. I've really enjoyed it."
The fact that Thomas already has a Tour de France victory under his belt can give him an advantage over the competition. "It does help me, as it means I have less pressure. I don't have to win here to make my career. I've done eighteen Grand Tours, so I have experience. That also helps on the road, knowing how to lead the guys. But in the end, it always comes down to the legs."