"Name-wise, Primoz Roglic is definitely the reference point" - Ralph Denk believes all eyes will be on Red Bull - BORA leader as Volta a Catalunya heads to the mountains

This Wednesday afternoon, the 2025 Volta a Catalunya heads to the high mountains for the first time, with the likes of Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso and Richard Carapaz among others doing battle in a prelude to the upcoming Maglia Rosa fight at the Giro d'Italia.

According to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team boss Ralph Denk, all eyes will be on their team leader Roglic. "Stage 3 is the first big day of the Volta, a really tough mountain stage and I think every contender here will go deep," Denk explained to Cycling News from the 2025 Volta a Catalunya. "It's the first opportunity to make a difference on GC and from what I saw yesterday [Monday] from Primoz and what I heard from him, what he reported, he feels good. He knows the stage, la Molina is in the Volta every year, so let's see. But we are quite optimistic."

As mentioned, the Giro d'Italia is very much in mind at the Volta a Catalunya in 2025. Because of this, it's somewhat interesting on such a stage as this afternoon's. to see if the likes of Roglic are at their top level just yet, or rather still building form for the coming Grand Tour. "Endurance is important, especially tomorrow (Wednesday ed.), but I am not worried that Primoz might have a problem about that," Denk previews. "Maybe the opposite is true, maybe it [the tougher course] even suits him a bit better."

"We have a different approach here, that's why we are racing less than some years ago," Denk continues, referring to his team leader's lighter schedule in 2025. "Because if the plans work, then the Giro and the Tour will be for Primoz and that's why we're not stressed if he is not at the highest level tomorrow. We're quite relaxed."

Denk is clear though, that all eyes will be on Roglic as the road heads upwards in Catalunya. "Also name-wise, Primoz is definitely the reference point for the Volta, but you can see in modern cycling there are a lot of young kids coming up," concludes Denk, noting also how Daniel Martinez and Jai Hindley can use Catalunya as a boost. "Definitely it's a good opportunity to race together to learn from each other and create trust. Tomorrow, too, I'll have more of an idea [about Roglič's own performance.] Our main goal is to bring Dani and Jai in the best shape possible to the Giro since the whole cycling world already knows what they can do [achieve]. If Dani is in good shape and Jai is in super shape, then I'll be relaxed, and everything else will fall into place by itself."