Geraint Thomas bounced back from a day of grovelling on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia to Santa Cristina Val Gardena to a day of grimacing in the Dolomites and on the little known but steep Passo Brocon climb in the south of the Trentino region.
The Welshman admitted he was not on a great day but his suffering was worth the pain after his Ineos Grenadiers teammates did some superb pacing on the second and final climb of the Passo Brocon. Thomas again tussled with Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the climb, responded to the Colombian's single attack and then led him home.
