"He doesn't even shave his legs and then suddenly he wins three in a row"- Jan Hermsen on Primoz Roglic

Thursday, 16 March 2023 at 09:15

The Dutch Eurosport cycling commentators analyzed Tirreno-Adriatico, in their program Kop over Kop. They started with the sprinters and in particular Fabio Jakobsen who managed to secure a sprint win, but it is still far from the records he was showing last season.

"Jakobsen was not the old one at the beginning of this season. He did not always seem sure of himself and was not steady in holding his position. He claimed himself to be as strong conditionally, but he looked a lot less confident," said Jeroen Vanbelleghem.

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According to Vanbelleghem, the absence of his regular lead-out Michael Mørkøv took a tool on Jakobsen's confidence, but the fact is that in Volta a San Juan and Volta ao Algarve he was there and Jakobsen's performance still came short.

"That's the regular man for Jakobsen, but he got injured just before this race and the Dutchman got Bert Van Lerberghe with him," he said. "He often lost the wheel and seemed a bit less confident. That's maybe logical when you haven't worked together much."

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A rider that impressed was Primož Roglič, the Slovenian returned to competition and dissipated the doubts surrounding his condition has he won the race and achieved three stage victories. He is scheduled to go to the Giro, but the commentators would also like to see him in Tour de France.

"I would always take him. He has a hard head and can go so deep. Imagine he rides well in the Giro and you take him then you have the same cards you were last year. There is no crazier person than Roglic. First, he doesn't even shave his legs and then suddenly he wins three in a row", said Jan Hermsen.

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On the other hand, Mathieu Van der Poel had another modest performance, despite doing a good lead-out to Philipsen in his two wins, Van der Poel in terms of individual results came short and the doubts surrounding him keep increasing.

"Mathieu is also someone who leaves it when he feels he cannot win anymore. Twice he was very good in the lead-out, but uphill he was really much less than everyone expected," Vanbelleghem argued. "Saturday in Milan San-Remo he can compete for the win, because you don't have to be top to win there. But in three weeks the Tour of Flanders is on the cards, so he really needs to improve. Wout van Aert is much further along now."