"Roglic? I don’t trust him" - Damiano Caruso insists Red Bull leader 'knows what he's doing' despite stage 7 defeat at Giro d'Italia

37 and 35 respectively, Damiano Caruso and Primoz Roglic are two of the peloton's elder statesman at the 2025 Giro d'Italia. Both have performed admirably over the first week of racing too, but on stage 7, neither could match the punch of Juan Ayuso on the first summit finish of the Grand Tour.

“It was a good result, considering how explosive the finish was,” Caruso reflected afterwards in quotes collected by Bici.Pro, having crossed the line in 7th, 4 seconds down on Ayuso and rising to 11th in the general classification as a result, whilst simultaneously improving the standing of his young team leader Antonio Tiberi. "As far as I’m concerned, I’m really satisfied — with the team’s performance, with my own, and with Antonio’s. It’s not a surprise; he’s doing exactly what he said he would."

For Roglic meanwhile, whilst he suffered the blow of being beaten and gapped by Ayuso at the line, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader did finish the day back in the Maglia Rosa. "Roglic? I don’t trust him. He knows exactly what he’s doing," the experienced Caruso analyses warily. "Over three weeks, he can still have a lot to say…”

The truth is though, that the Caruso - Tiberi dynamic for Bahrain - Victorious is looking a real threat so far this Giro. “We’re athletes who’ve been working together for a long time. So we’re a close-knit group. The team believes in us, and it’s only right that we repay that trust," says the 37-year-old, former Giro d'Italia runner-up. "You can see it in how we race — we don’t even need to talk during the race. We just look at each other, and everyone knows what to do. That’s a great feeling."

"Antonio is growing — in confidence, in every way really. So the project is moving forward," concludes Caruso. “We were going hard all day. Steady and full gas. One of Ayuso’s trademarks is his sharp, sudden acceleration — something Antonio doesn’t quite have yet. But the important thing is that both of them reacted. I’m happy about that, because I responded well too, even at 37 years old."