Thomas is expecting the Giro to erupt on Mt Etna

GERAINT Thomas is tipping the 100th edition of cycling’s Giro d’Italia to erupt on Mount Etna when stage four finishes on the summit of Europe’s most active volcano.

The Welsh wizard lies 11th overall following three taut stages in Sardinia but expects the general classification to be rewritten with the sprinters disappearing from it following a 17.9km slog up Sicily’s giant peak on Tuesday.

It’s the first of mountain finishes at the Giro – only the Tour de France is a more important stage race – and although the ultimate destination of the pink leader’s jersey is unlikely to be decided with another 17 stages to follow, a bad day could put some of the perceived contenders out of contention.

The last time the Giro visited the volcano in 2011, Spaniard Alberto Contador, one of only six men to win the Tours of France, Italy and Spain, blew the race apart.

“Once you’re on it, everybody will be going full gas ... if somebody’s good then they’re going to try and take time,” predicted Team Sky leader Thomas.

“I don’t think Tuesday will be about people not wanting to take the Giro lead too soon. Look at when Vincenzo Nibali took yellow on stage two of the Tour de France in 2014 – the race was still in the UK!”

Thomas spent some of Monday’s rest day studying video footage of the gruelling climb up Mount Etna, which comes at the end of a 181km (113ml) stage that contains a “warm-up” ascent of the 33km Portella Femmina Morta earlier during the journey from Cefalu.

“It’s different to have a climb so early on, but it’ll be good to see where I’m at, hopefully get stuck in and have a good day,” said the 30-yearold Maindy Flyers and Cardiff Jif product.

It will be the twice-Olympic track gold medallist and multi-world champion’s first time to ride Etna, which looms over the city of Catania.

“Apparently the wind could be important. It’ll be a good test, as long as you’ve got good legs, that’s the main thing,” he said.

Thomas is leading Team Sky in a Grand Tour for the first time having in the past being a key minder for Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France.

Spanish Basque Country climber Mikel Landa, who finished third at the Giro behind Contador and Italian Fabio Aru while riding for Astana two years ago, has the same status.

If either of them were to concede a large chunk of time to the other, the loser would probably revert to ‘domestique’ duty for the rest of the race.

“We’ve both got an equal opportunity, but once Etna’s happened, then the Blockhaus, the other summit finish at Oropa on stage 14 and the time trial, for sure there’ll have been a natural selection and it’ll have sorted itself out by the time we get to the last week,” said Thomas.

Defending Giro champion Nibali (BahrainMerida), who comes from Sicily, is another expecting sparks to fly on a mountain he knows like the back of his hand as he takes on race favourite Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Thomas and an extensive list of contenders gunning to wear the pink jersey into Milan on May 28.

“It’s inevitable that something will happen for Etna is a real climb,” said the Italian, who won the 2014 Tour de France and has also held the Vuelta Espana crown.

“It’ll be the first head-to-head fight, so we’ll see how I am and how my rivals are.

“It’s a complicated stage to get right coming after a rest day. It’s 180km and so not short. It includes 4000m of climbing and is the first important step of the Giro. It’s a big day.”