Today, there was an
interview with Andrej Hauptman in Slovenian media. Here is the part where he's talking about Tour-Giro balance (AI translated):
Question: We're back to the question that we and probably you yourself have asked many times last year, namely, how and to what extent should we slow Tadej down? On the one hand, if you don't slow him down, he goes full throttle in every race, he often wins, he's exceptional, in Catalonia, for example, he once again outclassed the competition. On the other hand, the more energy you spend, the less you have left for later. This year, when he decided to ride two Grand Tours, and there is not much time between the Giro and the Tour, it seems that this will be very important. How do you find the balance in this?
Answer: As we have said before, the most important thing is that the athlete is motivated. This drives him forward. Victories are confirmation. So why would you hinder someone if they are achieving victories at the highest level? Considering that Tadej is able to maintain a high level throughout the season, we strive to keep him in top shape for as long as possible. However, I can tell you that it was not the goal for Tadej to be in top form at the Tour of Catalonia.
Question: Will Tadej also race the Giro in such a way that he will try to win 21 stages and also the overall classification, or will he have to be more tactical?
Answer: A three-week race is different. It requires a different approach. Every bit of energy you save or spend makes a difference in the end. However, it is true that when Tadej sees an opportunity to win, he wants to take it. Ultimately, this also applies to other top cyclists who have a lot of wins. I believe that is the right thing to do. If you can win, you have to do everything to bring the victory home, considering that the whole team works to get you to the finish of the stage in the best possible position. Our goal is not to win a lot of stages at the Giro, but of course the goal is for Tadej to reach the finish in the pink jersey.
Question: The goal is for him to arrive in Rome in the pink jersey and probably also in a condition that allows him to prepare optimally for the Tour. This is probably a state where he would not be drained to the last atom of strength.
Answer: You have to realize that in order to win a race at the highest level, we can't try to conserve energy. First, we have to be very focused on doing the Giro as well as possible, and then we'll think about how to best rest and focus on a new cycle of the season.