Primož Roglic picked up the trident of the Tirreno-Adriatico tournament winner and put on the last blue jersey on Sunday, genuinely surprised that he was able to win in his debut season. He was happy to be back at his best in preparation for face to face with Remco Evenepool on Volta a Catalunya and then again in May at the Giro d’Italia.
“It’s great to be back to what it was this week. I liked it and we can celebrate this victory. We have worked hard for this so we need to enjoy it,” he said, praising his teammates for their support during the seven-day test races in central Italy.
“I can be on the podium alone, but really we have to be there with the whole team. The guys have worked very hard all week to help me win and deserve it as much as I do. had here with them.”
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Tirreno-Adriatico: Primož Roglic wins overall, Philipsen wins final sprint
Primoz Roglic remains humble after third Tirreno-Adriatico win
Primoz Roglic is an unexpected addition to Jumbo-Visma in Tirreno Adriatico.
Roglic has not raced since had bone graft surgery last October to stabilize his left shoulder after a crash that kept him out of last year’s Vuelta a España. He only started training on the road in December but worked hard at a recent high camp and looked lean and fit in Tirreno Adriatico.
He later competed in the Italian race, his Jumbo-Visma team used the UCI rule to add his name to the entry list shortly before the last 72 hour deadline before the race.
Roglic raced with unshaven legs half the race until he won stage 4 and started a hat-trick of victories that ensured his overall success.
“The opening time trial was very hard for me, I rode in a block and suffered. But then every day I got more and more into the racing rhythm,” Roglic explained.
“It was hard to come back after the operation. Fortunately, my family and the people around me were very supportive. We always believed that everything would work out, and we worked together. Now we can be proud and be happy.”
Roglic won the Tirreno-Adriatico, but admitted that he was not yet at his best and not ready for the tournament. Tour of Italy. From March 20 to 26, he will ride the Volta a Catalunya before returning to altitude for another block of important training at the Giro d’Italia.
“There is work to be done,” he said.
“Every year you get a year older and wiser. I have received confirmation that I am on the right track, but this does not mean that I am already where I want to be. You have to keep improving and that motivates me to keep going.”
Roglic doesn’t train, but he knows that hard work pays off.
“You can never climb fast enough…” he said. “It’s always a challenge to squeeze out another watt or two. But I also want to have fun, because when you’re racing, it doesn’t matter how much you push, you have to be happy and enjoy it.
“When you don’t win, you weren’t fast enough, right? When the other guys are faster, no matter what they show, the numbers are not enough.”
“But this is only the beginning of the season. I’m having fun again and we’ll see what happens at the Giro in May.”
Source: sports.yahoo.com
