Italy’s turn rolled this Friday from Albania with an inaugural stage between Durres y Tirana (160 km), But this Thursday was the favorite turn. In the heart of the Albanian capital, seven big names of the platoon (Roglic, Richard Carapaz, Egan Bernal, Wout van Aert, Juan Ayuso, Giulio Ciccone and Thomas Pidcock) They shared sensations with the media on a day that served to make it clear that the 108 turning promises strong emotions.
Faced with the emblematic Senza Trophy, the three winners of the turn present at the press conference of this edition: Bernal, Carapaz and Roglic. Next to them, the photo was completed with Pidcock, Ayuso, Ciccone and Van Aert, all with pending accounts and ambitious aspirations.
Roglic and go aert, old friends face to
The Slovenian Primoz Roglic, champion in 2023, returns to the turn with the support of his new team, Red Bull-Bora. “The Red Bull kilometer is a fun surprise. I hope I have not to spry for it, but it can bring action. It will be special to run against Waut, it is not just an ex -companion, it is more than that for me. I am sure that it will have its opportunities in this race,” he warned.
For his part, Van Aert, who debuts in the Corsa Rosa, showed illusion to discover new horizons: “We tried local laps in Tirana, the climb is hard and then gets down to the goal. It can be a day for getaways. I do not arrive with the ideal preparation, but this country is a stimulus. We have a strong team and every day there can be opportunities.”
Ayuso is claimed: “It is no longer a matter of age”
Juan Ayuso, leader of the UAE Team Emirates, is aware of the demand of the challenge. “Running here is not like in the Volta to Catalonia. The turn is longer and harder. You have to be careful every day. Tomorrow you can lose more than you can win. I hope that Saturday’s chrono favors me. In 2022 and 2023 the age could be a factor, but this is my big fourth. If I sink in the third week, it will no longer be for that reason,” said the Alicante.
Bernal: “I enjoy more now than when I won”
The Colombian Egan Bernal, winner of the turn in 2021, faces with renewed illusion a new attempt: “I keep fighting with myself to win another great return. I do not know if I can, but I try. What I know is that I now enjoy more of the cycling than when I won. The preparation in these last two weeks has been very good. Take the national champion They made me dream. ”
Pidcock, Ciccone and Carapaz: names to stir the race
Thomas Pidcock, after shining in the Ardenas, opens in the turn with the offensive mentality that characterizes him. “I want to run every day wanting, getting in the race. If I do, opportunities will come. I feel good after the classics and I have a special relationship with Italy since I won the Baby Giro. This year I can finally play races that I dreamed of running.”
The Giulio Ciccone combative will exercise a few days like this Friday of luxury squire for Mads Pedersen in Lidl-Trek, although it is not ruled out in mountainous days: “It will be a nervous day, with a lot of rhythm. The team is strong and we go with ambition, but we are not the only ones. In the climb we have to be well placed.”
Finally, the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, winner in 2019, already looks beyond the start: “The stages in Albania are an unknown, but as soon as we arrive at Italian soil we will see more familiar roads. Each stage will count, but the arrival in Siena will make differences between the favorites.”
The show begins
With these statements, the magnificent seven of the turn have made it clear that each one has their motivation, their ambition and their own story for a career that promises to leave their mark. This Saturday, Albania will see how a new edition of La Corsa Rosa starts. And everything indicates that it will be a battle without barracks.
