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Patxi Vila: Roglič Is in Better Shape Than Expected

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Patxi Vila says Primož Roglič has recovered better than expected after spending five weeks out following an accident.
  • Vila identifies the time trial in Jerez and the mountain stage ending at Collado del Alguacil as decisive for Roglič’s title hopes.
  • He also praises race leader Enric Mas and says the Vuelta has become more open since Tadej Pogačar’s absence.

Primož Roglič arrived at the Vuelta a España as an unknown quantity after five weeks without training, but Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe director Patxi Vila now believes the Slovenian can fight for a fifth title.

“Roglič did not have a perfect preparation, he was stopped for five weeks, and for us he arrived as an unknown. Now I do not see him badly, he is better than we thought,” Vila told EFE at Calar Alto in Almería.

Vila expects Roglič to remain in contention through the final stages. He singled out the time trial in Jerez and the penultimate mountain stage at Collado del Alguacil as the key tests. The time trial should suit Roglič, but Vila said the effort, expected to last about 38 minutes, will show how well he has recovered.

Roglič did not have a perfect preparation, he was stopped for five weeks, and for us he arrived as an unknown. Now I do not see him badly, he is better than we thought.

· Patxi VilaThe Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe director described Roglič’s recovery after his accident.

“We are in the fight, I do not know where we will end up, but we will fight until Granada,” Vila said. He added that Roglič must perform well in both decisive stages because they complement each other.

Vila also knows Enric Mas well from his work with Movistar. Mas wears the red leader’s jersey, and Vila said the Spaniard’s difficulties earlier in his career had made him stronger and more mature. With Pogačar absent, Vila said the race had become more evenly matched and more interesting. He viewed Roglič and Mas as similar cases, saying both began the season with physical problems but benefited from longer breaks in training.

We are in the fight, I do not know where we will end up, but we will fight until Granada.

· Patxi VilaVila outlined the team’s approach to the remaining decisive stages.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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