Primož Roglič has confirmed that his sole racing engagement earlier than taking over the Giro d’Italia in Could will come subsequent month on the Volta a Catalunya.
The Slovenian had deliberate a lightweight spring programme following main shoulder surgical procedure final October. He underwent a bone graft operation wanted as a way to stabilise his left shoulder following a collection of crashes and dislocations.
It appears as if Roglič has caught to that plan, taking it to the acute with solely the seven-day Volta a Catalunya on his schedule – coaching camps apart – forward of his return to the Could Grand Tour.
Talking to Slovenian nationwide broadcaster RTV (opens in new tab), the 33-year-old confirmed his upcoming plans to tackle the Catalan race, which runs from March 20-26. He final competed on the race as a neo-pro six years in the past.
“Earlier than the Giro itself, my solely race might be in Catalunya,” he mentioned. “Now I am in Tenerife. It is my first actual preparation for the season this yr.
“I solely raced Catalunya in 2016 and I am wanting ahead to going again. This yr there’s a number of climbing and it is going to be an actual take a look at of the place I’m going on the climbs.”
Roglič famous that his shoulder issues are actually up to now, saying that the issue joint is now working because it ought to. He is had a collection of points along with his left shoulder, dislocating it on the ultimate day of Paris-Good two years in the past and once more on the cobbled stage 5 of final yr’s Tour de France.
The triple Vuelta a España winner made the choice to bear surgical procedure on the finish of a season which additionally noticed him crash out of the Vuelta on stage 16 whereas battling for the pink jersey.
Following the process – which noticed a chunk of bone from elsewhere added to his shoulder – he would not get again on the bike till the tip of the yr, however his issues are actually behind him.
“I’ve no issues with my shoulder,” he mentioned. “It is working because it ought to, every thing is nice, and I am wholesome. I am nicely on my again to coaching with everybody else.
“To this point, every thing goes in keeping with plan. I might be prepared for the beginning of the Giro. We’ll see how nicely I do after I race Catalunya – this might be an actual take a look at to indicate the place we’re.”
Following Catalunya, the place he raced to second place on the ultimate stage in 2016, he’ll head again to Mount Teide for a group coaching camp forward of the Giro. He’ll face off in opposition to Vuelta champion Remco Evenepoel on the Giro, in addition to João Almeida, Aleksandr Vlasov, and Geraint Thomas in a race that includes three time trials totalling simply over 70km.
Roglič mentioned that the trio of phases might be important in deciding the maglia rosa, noting that he is now absolutely in a position to trip in his time trial place following his shoulder troubles.
“After Catalunya, I’ve deliberate an extended preparatory coaching camp for the Giro,” he mentioned. “The Giro might be determined within the time trials, or not less than they would be the deciding issue.
“After my operation, it was a bit of tougher for me to take a seat on the TT bike as a result of I’ve an excessive place, however now I can do it usually. Forward of the Giro, I’ll commit as a lot time as doable to [training on it].”
