Geraint Thomas’ chances of winning the Giro d’Italia appear to have ended in agony after Primoz Roglic won the penultimate stage.

Roglic beat Thomas by 40 seconds in a grueling mountain time trial to take a 14-second lead into Sunday’s final stage.

“I could feel my legs going about a kilometre and a half from the top,” said 37-year-old Welshman Thomas.

“I guess it’s nice to lose by that much rather than by a second or two – at the very least, he smashed me.”

Despite having to deal with a mechanical issue, Slovenian Roglic won the 18.6km stage.

“It’s just something amazing,” the 33-year-old exclaimed. “I tripped over the chain. It’s a component of it. You don’t want these things to happen, but I reattached the chain and resumed.”

Stage 20 took held in north-east Italy, between Tarvisio and the summit of Monte Lussari, just a few kilometres from the Slovenian border.

He also claimed that his fans gave him “extra watts” as he finished in 42 minutes and 20 seconds.
Roglic’s triumph helped to soothe the pain of his defeat in another thrilling Grand Tour time trial.

He had a 57-second lead over Tadej Pogacar entering stage 20 of the 2020 Tour de France, only for the younger Slovenian to overtake him with a devastating ride to capture the yellow jersey.

The Giro culminates on Sunday with a parade of 135 kilometers around Rome, during which the general classification leader will not be challenged for the overall triumph, as is customary.

“Just one more day.” I believe the lap is extremely difficult and complicated. It’s not over until it’s finished, but it looks nice,” Roglic remarked.

“To be honest, Primoz deserves that,” a generous Thomas added. He, too, had a mechanical.

“If you’d told me this in February or March, I’d have bit your hand off, but now I’m devastated.”

“I can be proud of the season I’ve had up to this point.” I’m also heartbroken for the boys since they worked so hard.”