“Wanted: one non permanent Vuelta a España chief. Applicants should not have long-term GC aspirations and might want to get in not less than one breakaway. For real-life job descriptions see the Vuelta 2021. Live interviews to start out from stage 6 onwards.”
This faux job software may properly have been posted by Vuelta a España chief Primož Roglič (Red 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 risk, 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.
But 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 staff was one thing he’d thought-about – previous to regaining it within the latter a part of the race – Roglič confirmed that was the case.
“It [loaning out the lead] is unquestionably an possibility, it simply is determined by the scenario, the way it goes and who’s within the break. But it’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 to be like splendid 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’s positively a superb likelihood for the breakaway.”
Roglič had used this explicit technique within the Vuelta a España beforehand, each occasions en path to his third Vuelta general win in 2021. After profitable 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 will even 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 identical technique would show so efficient in 2024, after all, however on present proof, Roglič appears eager to offer it a strive.
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