Primoz Roglic on today's stage: "I'll give everything to compete with the best"

Primoz Roglic took the win on the opening day of the Itzulia Basque Country and has yesterday enjoyed his day in the yellow jersey. Heading to stage three now, he will be faced with more difficult days where he'll have to start his defense of the lead against strong rival teams.

"This was probably the easiest stage of this week. I enjoyed the sun and the crowd; the people are very enthusiastic here." Roglic said in a post-stage interview. Yesterday's stage provided for the only stage where on paper Roglic's lead would not be attacked, and that came to reality as the peloton was more focused in the urgent late chase on Equipo Kern Pharma's Ibon Ruiz who was just caught inside the final kilometer.

"For tomorrow [today's stage] I expect a tough stage with short, steep climbs. We'll have to be very focused, and I'll give everything to compete with the best," Roglic added.

As the peloton will ride up to Amurrio today, Roglic's lead of the race will be put to the test for the first time in this race as the peloton is set to face a string of short but quite steep ascents. Jumbo-Visma have a strong collective to protect the Slovenian, but will have their wok cut out to keep him in yellow.