Tobias Foss on Roglic: "I look like him and maybe a little more like Tom Dumoulin"

Tobias Foss has taken a breakthrough win at the World Championships recently in Australia, however as the road season starts he returns to his supporting role. He will have a key domestique role for Primoz Roglic at the Giro d'Italia, and he sees himself as a similar rider.

"With Wilco [Kelderman] and Primoz [Roglic], yes," Foss tells In De Leiderstrui about his participation in the Corsa Rosa. "That's fine. I hope to start better than ever and it's nice to go with a leader who has already proven to be able to win a grand tour. I can learn a lot from Primoz, that's for sure. The ultimate dream and my goal is to go for a classification myself in a grand tour, but Primoz and Wilco are of course ahead of me in the pecking order."

He's unlikely to have his freedom at the Giro, where he has in 2021 finished 9th. He had the freedom to go for the GC this year but did not find his form. “I would have liked to have done something different than the Giro this year. I've been riding the Giro since turning pro, so it would have been nice if I could have done something different," he said. However, with the Tour de France block well solidified, the Norwegian will continue to only make his presence felt in Italy. 

So in the beginning I had to think about it for a while and let it sink in. In the end it's a good plan and if you want to win the Giro you have to go with a strong team. It will be cool to contribute to that. I've done work for others before, but it's not my ambition," he admits. "Right now it's fine and it's a necessary step, but I don't want to do it all the time. But as long as it's a nice leader I'm riding for, I'm happy to do it. With this Giro team we could eventually do very well in the Tour and maybe even win."

Foss has never ridden a Grand Tour outside of the Giro. If he were to find his best form he can be a card to play for Jumbo-Visma due to the time-trialing kilometers, however he expressed a different opinion: "The Tour de France would have been cool. I think the course suits me a bit better too, with longer and not so steep climbs. That suits me and I would have loved to be part of the strongest Tour team."

"However, they needed me in the Giro and the team has the last word. The riders must be divided according to the strength of the team and the ambitions of the team. Those ambitions are ultimately the most important. Right now it's all in for Primoz, that's the plan. I'm at peace with that, I want to do well in the other races. In the Algarve and Romandie I get a free role and I have to seize my opportunities there," Foss explains.

A former winner of the Tour de l'Avenir, big expectations fell on the Norwegian's shoulders. However at the same time as he appeared, his fellow generation has seen riders reach the top much more quickly and effectively. The stage-races continue to be his main ambition nevertheless.  

"I think I have the right mindset and of course a good time trial helps. Furthermore, there is still a lot to gain in my weight. If I can get that potential out at a pace that's right for me… I've already finished top ten in a grand tour, while there's still a lot of potential that can be easily extracted. That makes me believe that I can be a good GC rider."

“Once I've ridden a Grand Tour to my full potential, I'll know if I have the chance," Foss continues. "At the moment there is still so much to improve and if you already look at my level, I could already finish high with five percent better."

He's also aware that to reach the very top of the standings will be complicated, but can settle with more modest results. "Of course you go for the win, but if I can ever ride on the podium in a Grand Tour, then I have a good career," he adds.

In Jumbo-Visma he's found very similar riders to himself, such as Primoz Roglic with whom he'll be teaming up this May. “I think I look like him and maybe a little more like Tom Dumoulin. I also like to ride at my own pace, while Primoz is a bit more explosive. I'm a nice mix of both."

“I think I have the punch and build to do well in the one-day races as well. But in this team it is difficult to get a place in the classics." he concluded.