Pogacar checks his first box—What about Vingegaard and Roglic? "We have made some adjustments"

Tadej Pogačar already made his first statement of 2025 on Wednesday with a strong performance on Jebel Jais, but on Thursday, he may receive a response from the Algarve, where Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) are competing. Stage 2 features a summit finish on Alto de Foia—so what can we expect from these two superstars?

Vingegaard lined up for his first race in more than six months on Wednesday. "I've been able to train well over the past few weeks, so my form is coming along. I'm really looking forward to racing again because it's been quite a while," the Dane said during his pre-race press conference in Portugal. "I really missed competing—it’s the reason you love cycling. But last year, I really needed to end my season early and take a break."

The Visma | Lease a Bike leader is opting for a fresh start this season, targeting three races he has yet to win: the Volta ao Algarve, Paris-Nice, and the Volta a Catalunya. "For the past two years, I’ve ridden O Gran Camiño, which is a beautiful race, but the weather there wasn’t always ideal. I felt it was time to try something new, and I'm happy to be here in Portugal."

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Roglic sees Algarve as a race to get some miles in

For Primož Roglič, this marks his third participation in Southern Portugal. Representing Jumbo-Visma, he won the Volta ao Algarve in 2017. “It’s been a while since I was last here. Why did I choose to start here? You have to start somewhere, you know. For me, it’s just a race to get some kilometers in the legs, and it’s also a good opportunity to fine-tune my time trial," said the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider.

Both Roglič and Vingegaard are still somewhat uncertain about their form. “I hope to compete for the overall victory. We have a strong team, and I won’t be the only one capable of achieving something here, so we’re going for it," said Vingegaard. “I’m not searching for answers, but I just want to enjoy racing. Of course, I want to see where I stand, so hopefully, I feel as strong in the race as I do in training.”

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Vingegaard has made minor adjustments

“I feel like I’ve taken a step forward. Right now, I feel strong, but I can’t really compare myself to the others just yet," explained the Dane. "We’ve also changed our approach a bit—I haven’t done any altitude training yet this year. So I’m curious to see what kind of impact that has on my form. We’ve made some adjustments, and I hope they work out well, but we’ll only know for sure after this race. However, don’t expect too much—these are just small tweaks," Vingegaard added cautiously.

His Slovenian rival takes an even more process-oriented approach. “The most important thing is to get everything in order," said Roglič, who once again has Jan Tratnik as a trusted teammate. "We have a lot of new guys on the team, so we need to find a new way of working together. A lot of sacrifices are being made, and everyone will give their best, as always," said Roglič, offering his typical measured outlook.

Vingegaard is already keeping an eye on him. “My biggest opponent will be Roglič, but we’re dealing with a strong peloton overall," the Dane acknowledged. “We’ve talked a bit, but I know Primož has two kids now, so that takes up a lot of time—I know from experience," he smiled. "Still, he, like me, will enjoy every moment he gets with them." The two will face off again in Catalonia later in the season. “Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya are bigger goals, so in a way, this race is preparation for what’s ahead.”

Read also

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Vingegaard proposes 2 potential co-leaders from his team as possible Tour tactics against Pogacar

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