Primoz Roglic, with her son on the podium after winning the first stage of Itzulia /
The current champion was “very happy” after winning the first stage and stresses that “he will try to do everything possible to revalidate the Itzulia yellow jersey”
“I will do my best to revalidate Itzulia.” Declaration of war and hunger for winning the yellow jersey again in this Tour of the Basque Country. This is how Primoz Roglic showed himself after winning the first stage of the Itzulia 2022. The Slovenian has completed the 7.5-kilometre route through the streets of Hondarribia in 9 minutes and 48 seconds, followed by Remco Evenepoel (+00.05) and Cavagna (+00.16).
Roglic could not hide his happiness after his victory. “I am super happy to win today. I already enjoyed yesterday during the presentation with the public showing me their love and cheering me up for today, but today I am even happier after getting the victory, “said the Slovenian. “It was a very technical time trial, but luckily I had the legs to do a good time trial.” With his exhibition in Hondarribia he shows that he is once again the target to beat for his opponents, but that does not intimidate the Jumbo-Visma cyclist.
“It’s just the beginning, this has just begun. There is still the whole week ahead of us, but having a good distance from the pursuers is always good and positive. Although at the moment it is not very significant. There are still stages ahead, there is a long way to go, but I will try to do everything possible to revalidate the jersey », he acknowledged.
“Tomorrow will be a new day”
Remco Evenepoel has finished with a worse taste in his mouth. The second of the stage has described the first time trial as “short and technical”, assuring that “the winner of this stage was going to be a lottery”. In the end he has fallen on Roglic’s side, although the young Belgian cyclist wants to wipe the slate clean as soon as possible. “It’s a shame we didn’t win today, but we still have five days to go. Tomorrow will be a new day”.
It is early to speak, but everything indicates that Evenepoel will be one of the candidates to fight for the Itzulia yellow jersey against the current champion. Even so, the Belgian is cautious. «It will be difficult to finish ahead of Roglic. My goal is to finish on the podium.”
