How much is Primoz Roglic really bluffing? "I can't compete with them at the moment because those guys are powerful and explosive"

Primoz Roglic is so far having a strong Giro d'Italia, with the exception of stage 9 where he crashed and then punctured in the gravel. Otherwise, he's shown no weak points, but has also not been able to gain time climbing against Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso.

In Tagliacozzo he saw Juan Ayuso storm to a stage win, in Siena he saw Isaac del Toro going up the road to take the pink jersey, and now on Monte Berico the Mexican has struck again, netting a few more seconds in his pursuit of a strong overall classification. Whilst it has not proved costly, Roglic has also been caught out a few times already this race during attacks of UAE Team Emirates - XRG.

"I can't compete with them at the moment because those guys are powerful and explosive. I still feel pain in certain parts of my body after my crash on Sunday, but it is getting better every day," Roglic said in an interview with Val 202 after stage 13.

Roglic currently sits fifth in the overall classification, 1:35 minutes behind Del Toro and 57 seconds behind the Spaniard, who is equally nursing an injury in the knee that he suffered during stage 9. But thus far, little differences have actually been made in the mountain stages, and potentially this will happen for the first time this Sunday on stage 15 to Asiago.

But in the meantime there is another day for the sprinter, albeit one with a special taste for the Slovenian. "I can't wait to go to Slovenia. That day will definitely be etched in my memory". The riders have an explosive finale in Nova Gorica.

But he also anticipates Sunday's stage, with the long climbs to Monte Grappa and Dori as places where differences can be created. "That will definitely be a tough stage, with the Monte Grappa and a few tough climbs later on. But there will be many more, especially in the last week".