"It is up to riders like me to approach the race in a different way" - Romain Bardet hoping to emulate Thibaut Pinot by turning breakaway raids into GC success

Despite his positive form in recent weeks, Romain Bardet realises a first Grand Tour podium since the 2017 Tour de France will be a tough task at the upcoming Giro d'Italia. Therefore, the Frenchman is looking to adapt his style and is eyeing a compatriot for inspiration.

“It can also be done through a different way of racing. Look at Thibaut Pinot last year. He was very active in the breakaway," Bardet explains in conversation with Wielerflits. Although Pinot never really rode for the GC in 2023, the Frenchman ended up with a 5th placed finish overall and the King of the Mountains jersey. “I want to try to get the space during this Giro, so that I can put my cards on the table. Hopefully that will happen before Tadej Pogacar does. It will be difficult if you compete against him man-to-man on a final climb, I have to be honest about that.”

The aforementioned Pogacar starts as an overwhelming GC favourite and as such, Bardet realises the likelihood of him competing for the Maglia Rosa is slim. “So it is up to riders like me to approach the race in a different way,” the 33-year-old explains. “I don't want to look too far ahead and tackle each stage like a classic."

Straight away, the opening few stages pose a genuine GC shake-up possibility. “That will be very important and there will definitely be differences, but it is only the opening weekend. As always, the Giro will only be decided in the third week. We will see differences between the favorites after two days, but that is manageable. You have to be good now, but what counts is your form in the final week,” Bardet concludes. "My recent form gives me confidence that I am on the right track. I want to be consistent and get into a good flow for the third week, because there are plenty of opportunities there that I want to take.”