Geraint Thomas returned to racing at the Tour de Pologna and set his sights on the world championship time trial and the Vuelta a España.

The Ineos Grenadiers racer has spent time in Poland before, but riding a bike didn't seem to be on his mind. Before the first stage kicked off in Poznań, he humorously explained to Polish television, "I was just thinking about the fact that I was in Poland.

Thomas' first Tour de Pollogne appearance is part of his preparation for the world championship time trial on August 11 and the Vuelta a España, which starts in Barcelona on August 25.

"I need a little punch and racing intensity right now to step it up a bit for the World Championship TT and the Vuelta.

Sunday's Carpathian climb will be a key day for GC, while Thursday's 16.6km time trial will be an important opportunity for Thomas to test his legs over the distance.

The course in Pologna is slightly longer than the 10-mile time trial Thomas ran many times in England as a youngster.

"The Polish course is a bit more technical than the time trials held at the clubs in England, which are up and down a two-lane road.

"But a full-gas TT like this is always good.

Thomas, returning to racing for the first time since finishing ahead of Mark Cavendish (Astana Kazakstan) in the Giro d'Italia in late May in the city of Rome, said that talking to Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland about his teammate's home race said that he was instrumental in convincing him to race in Pologne. Thomas told a Polish television station, "He had been talking about this race a lot over the years."

Ineos Grenadiers has one of the strongest lineups in this year's Tour de Pollogne, with former winners Kwiatkowski and Pavel Sivakov, plus "new faces" Thomas and last year's second place overall and time trial stage winner Timen Arensman There are.

As for who will lead Ineos Grenadiers in Porne, Thomas said, "We have a strong team.