INEOS Grenadiers planned to fully focus on the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, where they believed they would have better chances of success. Thymen Arensman is a significant part of this plan, having almost led Geraint Thomas to victory in the Giro. Now he aims to rectify that and help the British rider to win the Vuelta.
“We are here to win the overall classification with Geraint Thomas. I am in good shape myself, so I will try to stay with him for as long as possible, to support him in the best possible way,” said the Dutchman to his country’s newspaper, In de Leiderstrui.
“That’s going to be interesting. Just like in the Giro, it’s good to be able to play multiple cards, but G (Geraint Thomas) is our strongest card. However, if we can put pressure on the others, that’s only good. The team wants to use me as Geraint’s last man.”
Despite Geraint Thomas downplaying his role as the team leader, which could even be a bluff, Arensman says it’s simple: winning is the objective.
Geraint Thomas praises Arensman
“He’s only 23 but he’s really a key guy: very committed, sixth in the Vuelta and the Giro,” Thomas said about Arensman on the Watts Occurring podcast.
“That can happen again. Right now, he’s in great shape, and I hope he doesn’t feel too pressured. But he’s ready for it. I think my form is very good. I’m lighter than ever, still with the same strength. I’ve been riding well in training, but those aren’t races, so we’ll see.”
Time Trial on Saturday
The initial time trial will be a day where INEOS Grenadiers could already don the red jersey, and he comments: “Everyone wants to win, that’s no different with us. We have a very strong team for a team time trial. The first part is technical, so it’s important to stay together there, and then turn on the engine with Pippo (Filippo Ganna) in the second part.”