By Gareth James

Geraint Thomas admits seeing Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Tao Geoghegan Hart win the Giro d’Italia was difficult after his own bid ended in agony.

The 34-year-old’s hopes were ended in bizarre and painful fashion by a stage three crash which left him with a fractured pelvis after a water bottle got caught in his wheel.

Thomas was back home in Cardiff as fellow Brit Geoghegan Hart took the maglia rosa on the final day in Milan having started the race as one of his domestiques.

A second Grand Tour title – to add to his Tour de France crown in 2018 – was surely there for the taking for Thomas but for that crash in Sicily.

“It was great to see. He’s a young rider, full of potential,” said Thomas on BBC Radio Wales.

“Obviously he was there to help me try to win initially, and obviously I went home and he had an opportunity and come the last week he was suddenly right up there.

“To finish it off and deal with that pressure was great for him, great for the team, and great to see.

“Although I did sort of struggle… if I’m being honest I wasn’t tuning in every day to watch it live, but I was keeping track, still messaging the boys. It’s great for them.”

Thomas is having some end of season time off the bike as he recovers from the injury.

But he is already turning his attention to next year where the delayed Olympic Games and regaining the Yellow Jersey arev likely to be the twin targets.

But Thomas is not ruling out returning for another crack at the Giro having seen a good chance of victory ended by a crash in 2017.

“I think the Tour and the Olympics,” Thomas added of his plans.

“Obviously I’ve got to down with the team and go through it properly, but the Giro as well is still sort of in the back of my mind, especially after this year.”