The only Portuguese cyclist at the Giro heads back with a clearly defined mission

Rui Oliveira will start his fifth Grand Tour with the “good responsibility” of trying to lead Juan Sebastian Molano to sprint victories, while the only Portuguese cyclist at the Giro will also “accumulate” the mission of helping Tadej Pogacar.

“Being in a team like the UAE is always a responsibility. [Emirates], especially since there is a big Tour ahead, in which the main mission is to help Tadey. But obviously my main role is to try to lead Molano to sprint victories. For me it’s a good responsibility, I don’t feel pressure because I’ve already worked a lot with him, I’m working, and it gives me a lot of confidence,” began the story of Lusa, the only representative of Portugal who will be at the match of the 107th round on Saturday Italy in Venaria Reale.

At 27 years old, Rui Oliveira will take part in the Corsa Rosa for the second time after his debut in 2022 (he also competed in the 2020, 2021 and 2023 Tour of Spain), this time as a starter. for Colombian sprinter Juan Sebastian Molano, with whom he recently trained for almost three weeks in Colombia.

“It was important because we were able to work on the technical aspects, the sprint and the starting aspects, which only when combined can be perfected, and we are really confident in what comes next. I think it will be a good Giro for us,” he assessed, noting, however, that this edition, which ends on May 26 in Rome, will have the strongest group of names “in recent years in the Grand Tour sprint.”

But the Portuguese’s tasks in the UAE Emirates will not end with Molano’s starts in (several) sprint finishes, since in the ranks of the “almighty” UAE team will be the Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, making his debut at the Tour of Italy, but already a clear favorite for the “maglia rosa” final.

“Before we go into the sprint, we may have to protect Tadej at every stage. This is the main goal, and we are all aware of it. There may be days when it will be difficult to even sprint to help Molano. , because I will have to play other roles. Here he is. [Pogacar] He’s number one, we know he can win the Giro and that’s the main goal,” he said.

Pogi, according to Rui Oliveira, is the “number one favourite”, with the Portuguese stressing that the absence of players such as Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel “does not distract from the race”.

“We have Geraint Thomas, […] Ben O’Connor… they are very strong cyclists and anything can happen in three weeks. We can no longer take anything for granted. I think day by day we will see how the race will develop. Obviously, we know our capabilities and what Tadej can do, which is win. We will try to come up with the best plan for him to get to Rome with the rose,” he added.

Returning to competition after more than two months off due to injury – he fractured his left radius in a fall at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – the Portuguese runner knows it will be “difficult” for him to get the opportunity to compete individually.

“If Molano wins, for me my goal will be achieved – my goal for the team. They don’t expect me to win this Giro, but you never know what can happen, it’s a very chaotic race. On the day when I can feel good and the team is confident, without losing attention to the goals of Tadej and Molano, why not give it a try? But it will largely depend on my legs, on my competitive pace,” he suggested.

Oliveira admits he doesn’t “really know where he is” because he hasn’t raced “virtually since the Volta ao Algarve” in February and “it’s a big unknown.”

“I worked hard after the fall – maybe harder than ever before – to get into great shape. Coming from Colombia, these first few days I feel very good on the bike. I foresee good results. things, but only the road and kilometers will tell you what can happen,” he emphasized.

Being the only Portuguese cyclist in the 107th Tour of Italy is “strange” for the guy Pisar from Guyense, since in all the major Tours he has competed in, he has almost always been “accompanied by both team and staff, and a platoon of other Portuguese”.

“Of course I would like all the Portuguese who race abroad and can compete in the big tours to be here, but [eles] They have other goals, and that’s fine. It’s always a shame because when people have quieter days they like to talk to the Portuguese – personally I like to know how they are and how things are going. It would be a big mistake for the team to hear Portuguese spoken,” he admits.

However, Rui Oliveira is simply “happy” to participate in the Tour of Italy: “It’s the most important thing to be at the start of this Giro. [porque] At that moment when I fell, it seemed difficult, almost impossible. And I’m excited to try to fight for something historic here on our team.”