"They didn't give me this role in Visma, I was more of a robot" - Jan Tratnik does cobbles, Strade Bianche and Giro-Tour with Roglic for debut BORA season

Jan Tratnik has spent two years with Team Visma | Lease a Bike where he was a right-hand man and key support rider for Primoz Roglic. Tratnik, who turned pro in 2009, has now been reunited with Roglic at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and was a big figure at it's media day, sitting next to his compatriot where he talked about Visma and his new schedule.

"I didn't lack anything in Visma, but I still got a different role here," Tratnik told Val 202. "I'm a mentor to the younger guys. I think I can contribute a lot here. They didn't give me this role in Visma, I was more of a robot. But in the new environment, there will be a little bit of everything".

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With the Dutch team he experienced a lot of success, contributing to the massive 2023 Vuelta a España where the team filled the entire podium; racing two Grand Tours in 2024 after winning for himself Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in the spring, and also riding to a Top10 at the Olympic Games. He was mostly a domestique, but a rider with great quality to chase his own results.

He will have the same role with BORA, whom he signed a three-year deal. "I will also be able to race on my own results if I'm good enough. I started well last season and was competitive. Overall, I think I've joined a team that will grow."

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The team has indeed grown significantly and Tratnik is part of it, having joined the German team alongside teammates Tim and Mick van Dijke, all of which riders who will play a role in the spring classics. Tratnik has lined out some big goals for him in the spring, he will start the season at Etoile de Bessèges and Volta ao Algarve, before aiming for wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Strade Bianche. 

He will then race the Volta a Catalunya alongside Primoz Roglic to hunt an important win before the duo will go on a training camp and race both Giro d'Italia and Tour de France later in the year. The 34-year old will be a very important figure for the team.

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