Primož Roglič’s dense palmares and sensible week-long stage racing monitor document imply he’s inevitably one of many high favourites on the Volta a Catalunya. However because the race gears as much as hit the excessive mountains on Wednesday, his workforce are staying resolutely relaxed about his choices for achievement.
Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe workforce supervisor Ralph Denk informed Cyclingnews that Roglič has already proven strongly sufficient on stage 1 to boost their hopes a couple of strong climbing efficiency.
Nevertheless, given the fast-looming Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double, in addition to Roglič’s near-complete dearth of racing in 2025 – thus far this 12 months he is solely taken half within the Volta ao Algarve earlier than Catalunya – there is no sense of the Volta being a crunch race for the Slovenian.
Even when two necessary components of their possible Giro d’Italia lineup, 2022 winner Jai Hindley and 2024 runner-up Dani Martínez, are lacking within the Volta a Catalunya, the race is performing as a key part for Might in one other means. The week-long WorldTour race supplies a ‘dwell’ setting, too, for Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to hold out very important behind-the-scenes workforce constructing work for biking’s first Grand Tour, and past.
“Stage 3 is the primary massive day of the Volta, a extremely powerful mountain stage and I feel each contender right here will go deep,” Denk informed Cyclingnews earlier than stage 2.
“It is the primary alternative to make a distinction on GC and from what I noticed yesterday [Monday] from Primož and what I heard from him, what he reported, he feels good.”
“He is aware of the stage, la Molina is within the Volta yearly, so let’s examine. However we’re fairly optimistic.”
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La Molina is a really well-known ascent, and Roglič was narrowly defeated there by Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) in 2023, however he remained in command of the result in declare the general victory in 2023. Nevertheless, a number of different sports activities administrators and workforce workers identified to Cyclingnews that the more durable build-up to La Molina, on a stage with 5,000 metres of vertical climbing, together with the 20-kilometre Col de la Creuta, will make for a a lot more durable day than common.
“Endurance is necessary, particularly tomorrow, however I’m not fearful that Primož may need an issue about that,” Denk stated confidently, earlier than including, “Perhaps the other is true, possibly it [the tougher course] even fits him a bit higher.”
Whereas the Volta is clearly an necessary aim, Denk says they’ve additionally opted for a a lot lighter racing schedule within the first half of 2025 to make sure Roglič can be in the absolute best situation come the summer time and a program of two Grand Excursions back-to-back.
“We’ve a special method right here, that is why we’re racing lower than some years in the past,” Denk defined to Cyclingnews. “As a result of if the plans work, then the Giro and the Tour can be for Primož and that is why we’re not pressured if he’s not on the highest degree tomorrow. We’re fairly relaxed.”
“Additionally name-wise, Primož is unquestionably the reference level for the Volta, however you may see in fashionable biking there are a number of younger youngsters arising, even yesterday,” Denk identified with a smile, referring to stage 1’s victory by 19-year-old Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Past the ultimate outcomes come Sunday in Montjuic Park in Barcelona, Denk recognised that the Volta offered a superb situation for team-building work, even when Hindley and Martínez weren’t current. “Positively it is a good alternative to race collectively to be taught from one another and create belief. Tomorrow, too, I will have extra of an thought [about Roglič’s own performance.”
As for the Australian and Colombian and the Giro, Denk said that “our main goal is to bring Dani and Jai in the best shape possible to the Giro since the whole cycling world already knows what they can do [achieve].”
“If Dani is in good condition and Jai is in tremendous form, then I will be relaxed, and every thing else will fall into place by itself.”
And as for the present situation of Purple Bull’s workforce chief for the Giro d’Italia, that can turn into rather a lot clearer within the Volta a Catalunya mountain phases: in different phrases – extraordinarily quickly.
