Yates: Roglic is the big favourite for Giro d'Italia time trial
Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) remained in defiant mood prior to Sunday's time trial amidst widespread predictions that rival Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) could once again rule the roost in the Giro d'Italia's second 'race of truth'.
Yates has improved notably his time trial ability over the last 12 months, and even last year in the Giro d'Italia, the widely predicted big differences between himself and Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) did not materialise, although he did lose time.
Second to Roglič in this year's opening TT in Bologna, on Saturday Yates was convinced he had a solid chance of defending his options.
"I showed I was going well in the Bologna time trial and I've felt the same in these last few days," Yates told reporters. "I hope I'll be able to do well against Roglič, who's the big favourite – as we could see was the case in Bologna where he won. I wouldn't say anyone here [of the favourites] is really bad, but I think it just depends on the day."
Yates added that his sensations were good, although his left leg, which he hurt when he crashed on stage four, was "a bit banged up, but hopefully that won't cause me too much pain."
Yates said that his unexpected Paris-Nice time trial win this March had given him "great confidence" although he recognised he would never be as good as Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb), who has already quit the Giro, "and those guys."
Climb suits Yates
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