Geraint Thomas finished safely in the front pack on the opening stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in Italy.

Wales’ 2018 Tour de France champ crossed the line in 31st spot in the same time as stage winner Pascal Ackermann.

Thomas is returning to action for the first time since his outing at last month’s Criterium du Dauphine cost his his Tour spot.

The Team INEOS rider is one of the favourites for the seven-day race as he looks to sharpen his form ahead of next month’s Giro d’Italia.

 

Ackermann triumphed on the opening stage – a 133km route starting and finishing in Lido di Camaiore – with a sprint finish to pick up the main bonus seconds.

The German threaded his way through his rivals to pip Fernando Gaviria on the line with several other fancied sprinters being taken out by a nasty late crash.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2020, stage one: Lido di Camaiore to Lido di Camaiore (133km)

1. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 2-57-55
2. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates
3. Magnus Cort (Den) EF Pro Cycling
4. Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC Team
5. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
6. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
7. Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
8. Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis
10. Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Jumbo-Visma,

31st Geraint Thomas all at same time

Tirreno-Adriatico 2020, stage one general classification

1. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 2-57-55
2. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, at 4s
3. Magnus Cort (Den) EF Pro Cycling, at 6s
4. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb, at 9s
5. Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC Team, at 10s
6. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
7. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
8. Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
9. Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10. Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis, all at same time

33rd Thomas +10secs