"He asked me how old I was and told me that at 21 he was still ski jumping" - Primoz Roglic takes Giulio Pellizzari under his wing at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe

Giulio Pellizzari was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Although a stage victory proved illusive, the Italian repeatedly shone in the high mountains and earned himself a World Tour move to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe in the process.

Despite his vast potential, for Pellizzari, 2025 is set to be a season of learning and in the form of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader Primoz Roglic, there is hardly a better mentor for the 21-year-old to learn from. Already at the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe winter training camp, signs of a positive relationship between the pair are beginning to form. 

Read also

"An easy decision" - Primoz Roglic confirms that Giro-Tour combo for 2025 was clear for him

"It's very important to have people like Roglic, Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov or Daniel Martinez on the team, they have won Grand Tours or been on the podium and can teach me a lot," explains Pellizzari in conversation with Eurosport. "Obviously you need legs, but there's also a lot more I can learn. I come from a smaller team and here I can steal a lot of secrets from the captains."

As mentioned, the sprouts of a blossoming relationship are already forming too. "I'm building a good relationship with Martinez. I spoke a bit with Roglic," reveals the Italian youngster. "The other day we were riding next to each other in training and he asked me how old I was. He told me that at 21, my age, he was still ski jumping."

In 2025 though, the chance to ride alongside and learn from Roglic is something that Pellizzari is very much looking forward to. "I already know my programme. I'll start with three races in Mallorca, then I'll go to the UAE Tour. Then there will be the high altitude training camp before a nice block of races with the Volta Catalunya, the Itzulia Basque Country and the Tour of Romandie," he looks ahead. "I'm a reserve at the Giro d'Italia, so I probably won't be there. And then I have the Tour de Suisse, Vuelta Burgos and Vuelta a España scheduled before the Italian autumn races. I would definitely like to return to the Il Lombardia after the 2024 debut, but there's still a long way to go, let's see."

"I will definitely have to help out in many races, in Catalunya Roglic will be the captain. It will be very important to race with him to learn how the team works," concludes Pellizzari. "In other races I might have the opportunity to play my cards, but we'll see how it goes. However, it's the first year, as I said it's a big leap and I almost only do World Tour races so I will also have to understand what level I'm at."

Read also

"If I look at someone who meant a lot to me for years, it's Primoz" - Robert Gesink warmly recalls time spent with Roglic