"Primoz Roglic really has the charisma of a champion" - Matteo Sobrero full of praise for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader

In 2024, Matteo Sobrero embarked on a first season in the colours of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. Although mostly operating in a domestique role for team leader Primoz Roglic, the Italian can reflect on some positive performances.

"I feel like I've reached the end of the year exhausted," assesses Sobrero in an interview with Bici Pro, having seen his season fizzle out somewhat following the Tour de France. "We talked about this with the team. There were some small mistakes or situations that it's better not to repeat. With the arrival of Red Bull, the team invested a lot in the Tour, perhaps too much. I had never been used to such workloads. We left on May 10, without practically ever returning home until the last stage. I also missed the Italian championship."

Although the Tour de France is always a race with major importance, this year, given the introduction of Red Bull to the team name and the fact that Roglic was expected to forge a viable Maillot Jaune challenge, it was bigger than ever for Sobrero and co. "We left to do some stage reconnaissance. Then from there we moved to Andorra for the high altitude training camp, we ran the Dauphiné and finally we returned to the training camp in Tigne. Once the preparation was finished there was the official presentation of Red Bull in Austria and a few days later the departure from Florence," he explains. "Once you stop, tiredness and fatigue come over you."

"All my teammates who finished the Tour said they felt the effects of the long period of stress. And it's something that I personally took with me to the last race of the season, even though I stopped between the end of the Tour and the other races," the Italian adds. "It's about finding the right rhythm and getting used to certain workloads and stress. All the teams do a similar program before the Tour."

Having previously raced for the likes of Dimension Data, Astana and Team Jayco AlUla, Sobrero has seen various leaders on his teams. In Roglic though, the 27-year-old is very impressed. "I felt very good with him right away, we have an excellent relationship. He is a different leader from those I have had previously, he really has the charisma of a champion," he concludes. "For the moment I am not totally tied to him yet, I could race in support of other captains. We will see what comes out of the retreat in December, it won't be long now."