Nevertheless, after a consistent week in the mountains, Thomas has proved he is a contender for the 100^th Giro d’Italia, finishing the fifth and final stage in third place in Trento to ensure a seven-second overall win ahead of Thibaut Pinot (FDJ).

Coupled with Thomas’ resurgent form at the Tirreno-Adriatico, where he saw his GC hopes dashed by a series of wheel failures for his team-mates during the team time trial on the first stage, only to storm back by winning stage two and eventually climbing to fifth overall, the Welshman will now hope to take that form into next month, where he will go head-to-head with the likes of Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and fellow Brit Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) in the race for the pink jersey.

Tour of the Alps 2017: final general classification

1) Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky – 20.49.37hrs
2) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ +7”
3) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +20”
4) Michele Scarponi (ITA) – Astana +27”
5) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Team Sky +42”
6) Pierre Rolland (FRA) – Cannondale-Drapac +52”
7) Emanuel Buchmann (GER) – Bora-hansgrohe +54”
8) Danilo Celano (ITA) – Italy – ST
9) Egan Arley Bernal (COL) – Androni Giocattoli +1.02
10) Rodolfo Andres Torres (COL) – Androni Giocattoli +1.16