Geraint Thomas could yet ride this year’s Giro d’Italia rather than solely focussing on defending his Tour de France crown.
Wales’ first ever Tour champ said earlier this month that retaining his Yellow Jersey was the main aim for 2019 despite having unfinished business with the Giro.
But Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford has hinted that those plans might change which would make it harder to win the Tour amid huge speculation in Italy that Thomas would be among the starters.
Thomas was due to face team-mate and four-time winner Chris Froome who finished third last year just weeks after claiming the Grand Tour crown in Italy.
Asked to comment on the speculation in Italy, Brailsford said: “We’ll talk about it in a couple of weeks, when we have decided.
“He’ll come back soon from a period of training in the United States, he’ll start his season at the Volta Valenciana, and then we’ll take stock.”
Just how difficult it is to win successive Grand Tours was proved by Froome last year who after winning the Giro was unable to repeat the feat on the roads of France as Thomas rode to his historic victory.
But Froome is desperate to land a record-equalling fifth title to join the likes of Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain.
Sky are looking for a new main sponsor next year which the broadcast giant withdrawing its £20m a year backing which could be a factor in whether Thomas rides the Giro.
Monaco-based Thomas has been training in Los Angeles before starting his campaign at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana on February 6.
New album dropping next week. Watch this space for tour dates… pic.twitter.com/sD7is1Q2MP
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) January 23, 2019
Thomas last rode the Giro in 2017 but saw his hopes of victory wrecked by a crash when well placed.
He had pencilled in a return last year but switched when Froome made the decision to go for the Giro-Tour double.
“Maybe if I hadn’t won the Tour in 2018 I might have looked at a Giro/Vuelta programme but, having won the Tour, I’ll have the number one on my back and it would be sad not to go back and not to go back at 100 per cent as well,” Thomas said recently