Favourite Roglic eyes becoming oldest Giro d Italia winner

Slovenias Primoz Roglic sets out to become the oldest winner of the Giro dItalia when the years first Grand Tour begins its 3,413 km trek from Albania to Rome on Saturday.

With reigning champion Tadej Pogacar focussing on the Tour de France, the door looks wide open for a host of riders seeking to wear the maglia rosa (pink jersey) on June 1.

The absence of Slovenian Pogacar and Denmarks Jonas Vingegaard means 35-year-old Roglic will be favourite to regain the crown he won in 2023.

Backed by a strong Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, including 2022 champion Jai Hindley of Australia, four-time Vuelta a Espana winner Roglic could surpass the record of Fiorenzo Magni who won the Giro, aged 34 and 180 days, in 1955.

We know how tough this Giro will be, and were also aware that all eyes will be on Primoz, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe chief of sport Rolf Aldag said.

Thats why were heading to the start in Albania with a strong, well-balanced team. Primoz is in great shape, and the group around him is well-rehearsed and gives us tactical depth.

Roglic began the season in fine fashion by winning the Tour of Catalunya but with Hindley and also 2024 runner-up Dani Martinez in their starting list, Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe boast a three-pronged General Classification (GC) attack.

They will not have it all their own way though with several other teams featuring strong overall contenders.

Young Spaniard Juan Ayuso leads the UAE Team Emirates challenge in the absence of Pogacar having won the week-long Tirreno-Adriatico this season and going toe-to-toe with Roglic in a fierce battle in Catalunya.

The 22-year-old will be supported by a formidable team of domestiques and Britains overall contender Adam Yates.

Between myself and Juan I think we should be able to have a good