"As a GC rider, it's not enough to just be at 90%" - Growing into the 2024 Tour de France won't be an option for Primoz Roglic according to BORA - hansgrohe sports director

The 2024 Tour de France will start with a vengeance in Italy before crossing the Col du Galibier on stage 4 and entering the French borders. Because of this, coming in half-baked and growing into the race won't be an option for Maillot Jaune hopefuls.

For BORA - hansgrohe, the general classification rider is expected to be their star signing from Jumbo-Visma, Primoz Roglic. Analyzing the race profile for his team's official website, BORA - hansgrohe sports director Rolf Aldag can see a plan forming to claim the victory.

"We know that the Tour start is always nervous. Now add to that the fact that it is also very difficult from a sporting point of view," he opens. "To plan more specifically, we will definitely look at the Italian stages. There will be plenty of opportunities around Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico in the spring to do our homework."

"It won't be a long wait - stage 4 is already a tough one. As a GC rider, it's not enough to just be at 90%," he continues. "It may be an old saying, but it certainly applies here: on this day you can't necessarily win the Tour, but you can lose it very early on. After that follows an unusual back and forth. It's not a typical clockwise or counterclockwise loop through France. It's more of an Alps-Pyrenees-Alps switch."

Two relatively long time-trials also pose a threat for any GC rider and although, Roglic is quite accomplished in the discipline, as he's seen in the past, Grand Tours can be won and lost against the clock. "The time trials are both hard. Knowledge of the course, pacing strategy, choice of material - everything becomes very important here," says Aldag. "The final TT, in particular, is unrhythmic, uphill out of Monaco and downhill into Nice. It could be an advantage that many riders live there and know the course."

"The last week is particularly demanding and offers many chances for a preliminary decision. If you already have the chance to make up time here, you’d be sure to take it and avoid the decision on the final day," he concludes. "The 2024 Tour has some extremely high mountains. There will be a lot of riding above 2000 metres. Who will do well at that altitude? Not many riders can, and it's the step up to the 2000 metre mark that quite often makes a difference among the climbers. We'll adjust to that, and the altitude training camps will be even more important now in our preparation."