Danny van Poppel was surprised with BORA's removal of Sam Welsford from Giro d'Italia: "Perhaps they have just seen that I am currently better than my leaders"

Danny van Poppel signed with BORA - hansgrohe in 2022 and in the role of a leadout man, quickly became one of the best and even the single best in the whole peloton according to many. However he has not had top sprinters to work with it seems, and is getting his own opportunity to lead the German team at the Giro d'Italia.

“I don't know why he's not here. You will have to ask the team the reason. But perhaps they have just seen that I am currently better than my leaders," van Poppel said in an interview with AD. “We started off great in the Tour Down Under, but after that it didn't go so smoothly anymore." After two year with Sam Bennett who frequently struggled with form - culminating at mutual frustration at the Tour of Britain last year where both were sprinting for themselves against Visma - the team signed Sam Welsford for this season.

Van Poppel began leadout duties for the Australian at the Tour Down Under and worked towards three stage wins. Afterwards, none. At the recent Tour of Turkey with a modest startlist, Welsford failed to finish inside the Top10 on any of the stages. He was set to be the head sprinter at the Giro d'Italia but was removed last minute - as was Emanuel Buchmann who was quite surprised. As happened at the Tour de France last year, Danny van Poppel remained in the lineup alongside the team's leadout, but now without a main sprinter. The Dutchman will fill the spot himself.

"The team chooses not to take Sam with them. Fine. Then it's up to me. And why not? I am a much better rider than I was three years ago," he argues. The team will have two outsider for the overall classification in Daniel Martínez and Florian Lipowitz whilst van Poppel will aim for the more hillier stages that can end in a sprint. "After a difficult race I can win. The team believes in it, and I believe in it.”