“Wished: one momentary Vuelta a España chief. Candidates should not have long-term GC aspirations and might want to get in no less than one breakaway. For real-life job descriptions see the Vuelta 2021. Stay interviews to begin from stage 6 onwards.”
This pretend job utility might properly have been posted by Vuelta a España chief Primož Roglič (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) after stage 5 of this yr’s race, when the three-time winner confirmed that when it got here to ‘loaning’ la roja to a non-GC menace, he was very a lot open to potential affords.
Roglič turned in a blistering climbing efficiency on stage 4 to Pico Villuercas, clinching his thirteenth stage win and recovering the general lead of the Vuelta for the primary time since he held it for a day within the race in 2022.
However because the Slovenian confirmed after stage 5 when requested if passing on the chief’s jersey for a spell to ease the stress on himself and his crew was one thing he’d thought of – previous to regaining it within the latter a part of the race – Roglič confirmed that was the case.
“It [loaning out the lead] is certainly an possibility, it simply is determined by the state of affairs, the way it goes and who’s within the break. But it surely’s positively an possibility for tomorrow,” Roglič stated.
Stage 6 was the primary alternative this might occur, and positively the difficult however not overly-challenging terrain into the Sierras of Cadiz appears ultimate for the primary breakaway of the 2024 Vuelta to make it to the end in Yunquera.
“I don’t actually know what the stage is like, they are saying it’s more durable than right now [stage 5]. But it surely’s positively an excellent probability for the breakaway.”
Roglič had used this explicit technique within the Vuelta a España beforehand, each occasions en path to his third Vuelta total win in 2021. After successful the opening TT and holding the lead for 2 days within the first week, he then handed it on to Picon Blanco stage winner Rein Taaramae. The jersey then returned to Roglič for 2 extra levels earlier than he ‘loaned’ it out once more, to Norway’s Odd Christian Eiking, from levels 10 to fifteen.
Then on stage 16 to Lagos de Covadonga, the place Roglič broke away with Ineos Grenadiers chief Egan Bernal and which may also be tackled on stage 16 on this yr’s race, the 2021 Vuelta a España lead was regained by the Slovenian for good.
It stays to be seen whether or not an analogous technique would show so efficient in 2024, in fact, however on present proof, Roglič appears eager to present it a attempt.
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