The secret of Roglic's triumph in the Giro: cherry juice and the Teide volcano

Extra portion of antioxidants for a new record in the Corsa Rosa. In the Jumbo they say that one of the keys to the triumph of Primoz Roglic is the regimen set by the Dutch dietitian Nancy van der Burg. Recovery is essential for a runner who has already turned 33. The Slovenian has learned to calibrate the optimal use of energy with a studied preparation based on training at altitude and a planned method of eating.

The Slovenian, who was acclaimed in Rome yesterday after the dispute of the last stage won by the sprinter Mark Cavendish (the 162 of his curriculum), seems finer than ever. “The recovery meal plan starts shortly after the race. We focus on providing foods with high levels of carbohydrates and protein. Roglic consumes a recovery shake and some cherry juice (fights muscle damage) right after finishing the stages. Before dinner, I have a snack twice,” Van de Burg, who was also a cyclist, has confessed.

Roglic feels strong thanks to the training sessions carried out on Mount Teide. In the preseason and in the spring he has been concentrated in the Parador Nacional del Volcán Canario, where he coincided with Remco Evenepoel. Thanks to this preparation and the reinforcement of self-confidence, he has been able to heal the mental wounds that overwhelmed him.. On Saturday, in the Monte Lussari time trial, he defeated the ghosts that haunted him since he lost the Tour de France in that 2020 time trial-climb in which he gave in to Tadej Pogacar.

He has also closed the chapter of misfortunes with the Giro. His previous participation, in 2019, ended in disappointment: when he had everything on track he collapsed in the last week in the face of the harassment of Richard Carapaz and Mikel Landa. He fell on the descent of Civiglio. He finished third.

Roglic is tough like few others. He is the winner of a hostile Giro, punished by covid, crashes and adverse weather. There were 176 starts and 51 withdrawals (about 29%). The previous lowest round was 2003, with 72. “This success is really special, it will remain engraved in my memory until the end of my days,” said yesterday the Slovenian, an icon of his country.