TIRANA (Albania) – The only day Primoz Roglic wore the pink jersey in the race was May 28, 2023, the day after the extraordinary time trial of Mount Lussari, in one of the most beautiful settings of the last Giro d'Italia. He dressed her in the Rome stage and today, after two years, he won her back.
«But that was a kind of big party – he smiles – now it's a bit different. This one, I mean, I'm just going to enjoy it.If they want to take it, fine. But I'll enjoy it day by day, because You never know when it'll be the last one. It's like with victories or something like that.. So yeah, I really want to enjoy it."
The leader of Red Bull-Bora he is serene and smiling. And it is not only for the conquest of the primacy, but for a mental condition far removed from stress with whom he lived the races before of the 2022 accident. And so in telling the day, he seems amused and at the same time annoyed by the conquestHe wanted to do well in the time trial and that would have meant winning the pink jersey, but at the same time he would have done without it. There's an amusing contradiction in his story and this makes him even more messy and cute.
The pink jersey is back.
I'm happy, definitely. You never really plan it. You dream of having it or fighting for it, of having it in your homeSo yes, I'm happy with today's result and obviously with the jersey. But I came to Rome to get it, so there's still a long way to go.
Didn't you expect to earn so much on your direct rivals?
I actually just wanted not to lose too much, because it wasn't exactly the time trial I would have liked or that suited me bestIn the end, I had to make do with what I had, so I'm happy and I had a lot of fun. I mean, let's be clear, running it was pretty tough, but the result is beautiful.
You had a good gear ratio on your bike…
It was a 68×10. The problem with certain ratios is not choosing them and assembling them, the problem is the power needed to turn them. And today I somehow made it.
Now they'll tell you it came too soon...
I don't care much about partial results anymore. They advised me not to stress about these details. So, it's enough for me to know that I'm healthy and well.I did a good time trial and to arrive so far in front was simply a great surprise. Now I also have this pink jersey and it's easier to lose it than to conquer it, that's why I'm glad I have it on.
If you happen to hand the jersey to someone else, will you avoid giving them six minutes like O'Connor did last year at the Vuelta?
In that case (laughs, ed.), a few minutes less would be better, right? We'll see.
How do you imagine tomorrow's stage with such small gaps?
I imagine a day like yesterday. There's a tough climb, so it depends on how fast the pace is. Obviously. Mads pedersen He's in great shape, so I imagine they'll definitely try to put him back in the lead at the Giro.
Tarling's Moment
Time to notice that Roglic is walking around with two watches and Joshua Tarling, the winner of the day, arrives in the interview van. For the time trials he is trained by Dario Cioni and at Ineos Grenadiers that subtle and never confessed rivalry with Ganna It has turned into a mutual incentive over time. Only that while When Ganna wins he has a taste for storytelling, it turns out that Tarling speaks in monosyllablesPerhaps intimidated by his young age, given that this big boy who has defeated the best specialists in the Giro is only 21 years old.
«First time trial and victory – he says – is really special. I think that now we also have the necessary confidence and we are looking forward to the next oneIt's a good way to start. I can say it was the goal from the beginning of the season. The first one was the Classics, then we made a switch and we couldn't wait to get here, especially because The route, with all those curves, was suitable. Some thought it was dangerous, but it was enough not to take risks.. Instead, it was stressful to sit in the hot seat for so long. I thought Roglic would be fast, and obviously at the top of the climb he was. But he earned more than I would have liked. and waiting for his arrival wore me out."
The wait, as it turned out, lasted forever. Leaving the interview truck We meet Mads Pedersen and he doesn't have the same smiling look as yesterday. You can bet that tomorrow he will try to take back the jersey. Regardless of everything that can be said, The first two Albanian stages offered some splendid glimpses of cycling. On the standings front, Ayuso gained on Tiberi. Piganzoli did an excellent time trial and Storer still has the legs of the Tour of the Alps. Van Aert he left with his morale in pieces for a 34th-place finish that disappointed everyone. The Giro has just begun, and we can't wait to tell you the rest.
