Jai Hindley to lead BORA - hansgrohe at Tour de France, skips Giro d'Italia

BORA - hansgrohe are currently in Mallorca on their first team training camp and from there the plans for the 2023 season are assembling. Giro d'Italia defending champion Jai Hindley will not return to defend his title, but will instead focus on the Tour de France.

Ralph Denk, manager of the German team, has hinted at that in an interview with German CyclingMagazine. Aleksandr Vlasov has this week revealed that he will be leading the team at the Corsa Rosa, with Lennard Kämna also expected to go. The Russian climber talked of defending the title his teammate achieved this year, and Denk's interview further cements the rumours that Hindley would be heading to the Tour.

This does not come as an unexpected decision as Hindley is a rider who vastly struggles in the time-trials in comparison to the main stage-racers. With the likes of Remco Evenepoel, João Almeida and Geraint Thomas confirmed for the Italian race, it would have him in disadvantage over 70 kilometers of individual time-trialing.

The Tour de France features only one individual time-trial, which has 22 kilometers in distance, two ascents and a large descent. Virtually no terrain for the specialists to take advantage of, the route is the perfect opportunity for pure climbers such as him. Emanuel Buchmann, who rode to 7th place at this year's Giro alongside Hindley, will also be present at the Grand Boucle. Sam Bennett is believed to also be aiming at it, with a packed BORA expected for the upcoming summer in France.