Roglic plays down age gap with cycling’s new generation ahead of Tirreno return

Tirreno-Adriatico has been a happy hunting ground for Roglič in the past. The Slovenian won the Italian stage race in 2019 and again in 2023, taking several stage victories along the way. After sitting out the early part of the season, he returns to competition this week with a familiar mix of curiosity and confidence.

“At the first race it’s always difficult to know exactly where you stand,” the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider said to Wielerflits ahead of the start in Lido di Camaiore. “It’s not like I’ve just been on holiday in recent weeks. I did a training camp at altitude and trained well there. But right now I’m mostly happy that I can race again.”

The peloton Roglič joins in Italy looks slightly different from the one he dominated in previous editions. A new generation has quickly stepped forward in recent months. Riders such as 22- year-old Isaac Del Toro and 21-year-old Paul Magnier are expected to be among the protagonists this week, while 19-year-old Paul Seixas has already drawn quite the attention earlier this season.

Roglič says that shift in the peloton does not bother him. If anything, it adds motivation. “So young riders don’t make me feel old. On the contrary, they actually make me feel younger,” he said. “I love competing against these guys. As soon as we pin on a race number and the race starts, age means nothing.”

“All of us start from zero and have to prove ourselves again. That’s the beauty of this sport. You have to show your worth again and again, whether you are a young rider or someone who has been around for years.”

The time trial in stage 1 is expected to create the first gaps in the general classification, though Roglič believes the race will ultimately be decided later in the week.

“The opening time trial will definitely play a role in the general classification. But I think the stages later in the week, especially in the Marche region, will probably decide the race.”

Those are the same roads where Roglič dominated three years ago, winning three stages in a row on his way to the overall victory. Still, he is quick to point out that past success offers no guarantees. “What I won three years ago doesn’t mean anything now,” he said. “It gives no guarantees. We all start again from zero.”

For now, Roglič says he is not overly concerned with results. The main objective is to return to racing rhythm against a strong field.

“Of course I always want to win. But to be honest I’m not so focused on results right now. The field is strong and I’m mainly looking forward to racing against all these guys again.”