Three days. This is the time you have Primoz Roglic to turn around a Giro d’Italia that something has gone uphill after his weakness shown at Monte Bondone. Today, on the occasion of the 18th stage of this Italian round, we could find out if it was simply a bad day or, on the contrary, if he is not in the best physical condition after the fall suffered at the beginning of the second week, the same day that Tao Geoghegan said goodbye to the race.
The Jumbo rider, who started in Pescara as the top favorite for the title in all the pools, has before him an ideal mid-mountain course for his characteristics and to recover the disadvantage he now has in the general with respect to Geraint Thomas and João Almeida: 29 seconds with respect to the British, 11″ against the Portuguese. “Both Primoz Roglic and Joao Almeida are very dangerous. Joao is a little closer. They’re both super strong time trial racers, I’m scared of both of them to be honest. Friday seems to be the queen stage. From my experience, I have the confidence and belief that I can win.” affirmed the pink jersey after finishing the stage last Wednesday.
The menu will be 161 km and 3,700 m of unevenness accumulated, being the last 35 km the ones that can blow up the race. From that point there will be no respite, where a chain of three climbs will begin (one 1st and two 2nd category) that will culminate with the explosive finish in Val di Zoldo (2.7 km at an average 6.4%), which is reached after a fast and technical descent once the Coi has been overcome (5.8km at 9.7%), with its fearsome final ramps at 19%. It would not be unreasonable for a break to come to fruition, but what is certain, in any case, is that we would have two battles: the stage and the general.