"Jumbo-Visma is more Paris Saint Germain, but Remco is our diamond" - Soudal-Quick-Step can compete with Jumbo-Visma says Fausto Masnada

With the Giro d'Italia fast approaching, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic are set to once again go head to head as was the case for much of last years Vuelta a Espana. Soudal - Quick-Step rider Fausto Masnada is confident the team can repeat their prior success over Jumbo-Visma.

"Ultimately we will use a less aggressive strategy than Jumbo-Visma, which attacks more often. I think we will be more defensive and make more breakaways," says Masnada to BiciPro. "We are also not like UAE-Team Emirates or Jumbo-Visma, teams that are full of champions and are a bit more like Paris Saint Germain. But we have Remco as our diamond and we all do our utmost for him."

Masnada knows that securing the Pink Jersey for Evenepoel won't be easy though and he is full of praise for Roglic. "Primoz is a winner, who is very intelligent and knows himself well. He has the experience of someone who has won three grand tours," he says. "I didn't really see him in trouble in Tirreno-Adriatico."

In something of a dress rehearsal before the real show commences, both Roglic and Evenepoel will be racing at Volta a Catalunya, with Masnada excited at the prospect. “That is also our first goal. Roglic will also be there, and we will get a picture of how he and his team behave. In the end, the Giro is still a little over a month away, but we can already get an idea."