"Unfinished business at the Giro" - Michael Storer not bothered by Vingegaard or Almeida in pursuit of Corsa Rosa success

Michael Storer has been part of the Giro d'Italia on several occasions and last year he began it as a strong contender for a top result. However a succession of several crashes saw the Australian rider fail in his goal - despite still finishing the race in the Top10. But after joining Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel on the podium of Il Lombardia, he was reminded of how high he can reach.

Storer is one of the men who has from early on put down the Giro in his schedule, even though Tudor has an automatic invitation for the Tour de France. He will be having the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida as competition, but this is not his focus. "I really just focus on my own thing. I really don't care who turns up at the Giro," Storer said in an interview with Cyclingnews. "I know it's gonna be a strong field, but it's irrelevant for me because I can only control what I do. OK, maybe it's better if none of them turn up, but I think that's unlikely".

After finishing 10th on two consecutive occasions, the 28-year old wants more. "The Giro is a race that really motivates me, that I get excited about. It's the focal point of my 2026 season". Last year Storer won the Tour of the Alps ahead of the Corsa Rosa and put in an exhibition that rightfully planted him close to the top of the charts.

But at the Giro itself, he didn't often look to be at his best. That is what pushes him to give it another go in the Italian Grand Tour. "I've got some unfinished business at the Giro. It gives me the motivation to push a little more in training. I really want to go there and do the best I can."

After the Giro last year he still raced the Tour de France as a stage hunter, coming close on two occasions but not performing in the high mountains. However he finished his season very strongly, also winning the Memorial Marco Pantani and finishing second at the Giro della Toscana.

"My main goal is to keep progressing as a cyclist and try to work on all the aspects of my performance. If I make those improvements, I'll already be happy, regardless of what the results sheets say. At the same time, it'd be great to win a big race."

Storer spent several years at Sunweb and Groupama - FDJ, but it was his step down to ProTeam level that saw him finally reach the desired consistency, which now sees him take on very meaningful results.

"It's a team where I feel like I really belong. I get along really well with everyone. Their ideology of how things should be done matches mine, so it's really like a natural fit". The Swiss team is a perfect fit and it is not by chance that he is currently signed all the way until 2028.

"The team and I have developed together. Now I know I can get results, and the team has given me the opportunities, so then it kind of spirals in that direction. They have given me more trust, and that kind of solidifies my role. That's good for me because it helps me progress further in the right direction."

Tudor is a fast growing project and although they do not have a World Tour license yet, they have automatic wildcards for all World Tour events this year, have a team to maintain such position over the coming years, and have riders able to win at the top level and be at the same level or above some World Tour structures.

Such a position does come with its responsibility too, as Storer has had to learn how to become a team leader, not just a stage hunter. "I don't think anyone is a born leader, but you can learn how to be a leader. You just have to learn to do it in your own style [...] The stereotypical leaders sort of impose themselves on the group, but I think being a leader is a lot more than that. My style is a bit different. I like to have a good relationship with all my teammates and try to understand all of them, so they know what I want. Then we can work together to get the results."