"I would like to win another stage in the Giro before I retire" - Romain Bardet sets main goal for 2024

As a French rider, throughout most of his career leading a French team, it's no surprise that Romain Bardet has had a lot of focus on the Tour de France. However with stage wins there and the Vuelta a Espana, he sets out to try and win a Giro d'Italia stage before retiring.

“I would like to win another stage in the Giro before I retire. That would be a great moment, even though I don't have much Giro experience yet. I have only ridden the Giro twice and managed to reach the finish only once," Bardet told the microphone of Eurosport. He's had a strong performance in 2021, finishing seventh in the GC. In 2022 he was in the fight for the podium before abandoning in the second week. Having chased the GC, he now aims exclusively for a stage win.

Bardet will be the leader of the Dutch team in the mountainous races, whilst Fabio Jakobsen will be the focus on the sprints. Bardet will likely, as most of the riders in the team, have a free role however. His schedule for the season is still relatively unknown, but a trip to Italy seems certain. As for his continuation in cycling beyond 2024, he still has an open answer.

“It is still completely open. I still enjoy what I do, but I have now reached an age where I have to evaluate and see what is still in store," he tells. "I will decide before the Tour what the next step is. In the back of my mind I know this could be my last year, but I might just keep going. That is still open at the moment.”