Ayuso with good use Roglic’s favorite weapon

« Most importantly, I will wear a pink T -shirt at the finish in Rome, » was the mantra that Primož Roglič repeated at Gir 2023, at which the leadership took over the overall standings just before the now, in the 20th stage in Višarje. This year, Maglio Rosa has dressed twice before, but with a smile on his face the next day he undressed.

The Zasavska eagle and his assistants from the Red Bull Bora Hansgroha team were not uncompromisingly defended after wearing it for the first time after running on time in 2 stages, and the exercise was repeated today when it was scheduled for 8. They dropped a hefty group of fugitives and never showed the intention to catch them.

This was most delighted by a 24-year-old Australian Luka Plappa (Jayco Alula), who celebrated his eighth career victory but first in the world series. It seems that Slovenian cycling lovers will be better acquainted with it next month, as he has an entry on the race in Slovenia from 4 to 8 June.

But even more so was the two -time « Slovenian Tour » (2011, 2019) Diego streets (XDS Astana), who has already received eight stages of Gira in his career, but at the age of 35 he first weared a pink T -shirt. Roglic undressed her, though he was 4:01 behind him. With that is a former assistant Tadeja Pogacar With the UAE team (left it after the 2023 season), it impressed Italian fans who welcomed the countryman in a pink T -shirt after 1466 days of drought.

Transfer T -shirts by the sports director of Roglic’s team Patxi Villa It was announced in advance, it was quite precise. After the new street leads with 12 seconds advantage over a team colleague Lorenzom Fortunat and 17 in front of the Zasavski eagle, which in the end had to pay attention to the moves of the winner 7. Juana Ayus (UAE).

This one continues to use Roglic’s favorite weapon from the past seasons. Once upon a time, the Slovenian AS in the sprint has gained crucial seconds against its rivals, now the 22-year-old Spaniard is doing it. Roglic’s legs, after receiving the battle on the ascent of Tagliacozzo the day before, tried a short but steep slope on Gagliole, and then on a slight finish in Castelraimond and escaped a few meters, so that Roglic had cut another second. The difference between them now is only three seconds.

To Strade Bianche last in 2018

“It was hot and it was a challenging day behind us, we had to surrender a shirt. The boys were very strong, we made all our ability, sometimes you get a T -shirt sometimes you lose it, but many days ahead of us, « Roglic, unlike his sports director, did not want to reveal that the pink shirt was deliberate.

As a result, he will not have the first escort car in the caravan tomorrow, which would be welcome if something goes wrong in 9. Stage, which is all afraid of. It is the turn of the Tuscany and macadam sections from the Bianche race, and finally the famous ascent of VII Santa Caterina to Piazza del Campo in Siena. « We still have a car number two, not number 30, so that will not be too much of a problem, » Roglic, who has performed three times in the one -day Rade Bianche race, but finally in 2018, and his best ranking was 35.

Nevertheless, he has more experienced than Ayusa with a macadam, where he has reigned three times, which has never performed on Tuscan white roads. Tomorrow’s stage will be a special test for both hot candidates for the victory and their teams. The question is whether any of them will dare to go uncompromisingly in the attack, because it will be a day when you can lose giro due to an accident, but you can’t get it.

Profile 9. Stage Gira. Infographics: Work

Roglic is definitely a race with the head and not upside down at this year’s Italy race, but the first week will not be decisive, but the last with many challenging challenges in the Alps. There will not be decided there by the greater explosiveness showing Ayusa these days, and there will be an answer to the only important question for the Slovenian trump card: Who will wear a pink T -shirt in Rome?