TOUR de France winner Geraint Thomas was still second overall in the Giro d'Italia ahead of Tuesday's 16th stage, after pre-race favourite Tadej Pogačar stretched the lead to six minutes.

And the 37-year-old Welshman, who lost out by just seconds to Primoz Roglic last year, said the Slovenian's breakaway victory in Sunday's toughest 'Queen Stage' made it a 'cat and mouse' race for the rest of the field.

Pogačar broke away with 14km to race to the top of the 2300m summit in Livigno after his UAE team ramped up the pace, winning the stage by some three minutes.

And 2018 Tour winner Thomas, who owns the St Tewdric’s wedding venue near Chepstow, admitted he "knew the attack was coming", but couldn't respond.

"I wasn't feeling 100 per cent... I didn't feel super all day. So when it came, I just thought I'd try and use the other guys, follow them.

"Obviously we just slowed right up and it became a cat and mouse, a race amongst us really. Everyone just sort of let Pog go and do his thing...

"If I tried to follow I could follow for a bit, and then blow up and lose ten minutes."

Ineos Grenadier rider Thomas finished sixth on the stage before Monday's rest day to retain second 15 seconds ahead of Dani Martinez.

And he said: "I felt better, the legs sort of came round, and I felt alright by the end. It was nice to gain a bit of time on everyone and finish with Dani.”

And Thomas says Pogačar's UAE taem could pay for Sunday’s effort.

"Chapeau to UAE. They buried themselves... They’re going to pay for that. They’ve just got to hope they don’t pay for it at the same time."