"I'm a bit slow starter and finish better" - Primoz Roglic gradually becomes bigger threat to Remco Evenepoel at Giro d'Italia

Primoz Roglic has had a not-so-good start to the time-trial on stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia, however ended up with a positive result. After a modest opening time-trial, it becomes apparent that the Slovenian isn't having the same legs against the clock, but he's lost only 17 seconds to Remco Evenepoel on this important day.

“I've seen the results and it looks good. Remco is a bit ahead on his own, and then the three of us are there. That will be interesting in the coming weeks," Roglic said in a post-race interview. The Slovenian actually had lost more than that in the first intermediate point alone, but clawed back time on his rivals throughout the rest of his effort.

“I'm a bit slow starter and finish better”, Roglič concluded, perhaps having a wordplay also related to the third week of the race. He finished the day in a respectable sixth place, 17 seconds back on the new race leader, and similar to Geraint Thomas and Tao Geoghegan Hart who kept up with him last afternoon when he launched his first attack.

Roglic now sits third in the overall classification, 47 seconds back on Evenepoel. After the opening day there were fears within Jumbo-Visma that he would be further away from the pink jersey. However, the difference between the two is relatively short going into the Alps - although until then there are three days where he has to stay up on the bike and avoid time losses.