Will Barta will aim for a breakaway success at Giro d'Italia: "I'm in one of the top levels of my life right now"

More than two years after he broke his femur, Will Barta finally feels he’s back at his best. It likely couldn’t have come at a better moment as the American hunts success at the Giro d'Italia.

“It’s my second Giro and I’m in a lot better shape than last year,” the 27-year-old told Cyclingnews. “I want to go for a stage win and that’s the main goal so we’ll see how the race develops.”

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The main reason why there has been a hike in his condition, Barta says, is that “this is the first winter that I haven’t had to have surgery on my leg. So that makes a big difference. Also I have a good group around me and a good trainer, good nutritionist, so everything’s been good.” 

A gifted time triallist who came within a whisker of taking a Vuelta TT way back in 2020, Barta claimed a notable 15th on the opening Giro TT. But although the course was not ideal for him, his performance was still useful as an early gauge of his form.

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“It was a bit too flat and fast for me, but I did want to go out and see what I could do. I had hoped I’d get in the break on stage 4 so I could have a chance of taking the pink, but there was a big fight and I missed out there.”

“What I do is varied. I’m not the biggest guy so I have a hard time battling up there with leadout guys, so I’m more with Einer and maybe do some early work for Fernando. But I’m not in the finales," he explained one of his roles as guardian of Team Movistar's GC hope - Einer Rubio.

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Race Analysis - Profiles & Route Giro d'Italia 2023