Romain Bardet wants to ride two grand tours in 2017 for the first time in his career. The French climber has expressed his desire to be at the start of the Giro d’Italia.
“I really want to go to the Giro,” Bardet told Cyclingnews. “It would mean lots of reconnaissance and training camps and it remains to be seen whether it’s compatible with the Tour. I know what I owe to the Tour and the love that I have for the race, so it’s tough to say to myself that I might be below my best there. It’s a tough one.”
Julien Jurdie, directeur sportif at AG2R, does not share the same point of view. “I don’t think it’s the right year to do the Giro. Especially when you have a Tour de France parcours that’s so well suited to him – with not much time trialling, lots of massifs, climbs and descents.”
“The Giro parcours is very tough, very exacting. I think doing that Giro before the Tour, it’s maybe too hard this year to do that double. We’d be going up against Italians who are very, very motivated for the 100th edition. Romain doesn’t know Italian roads – there are many pitfalls that Nibali and Aru, and those with more experience know all about.”
“Personally, I’ve worked on the Vuelta 11 times and the Tour 12 times, and I know that it’s possible to be a protagonist in both. I think the Vuelta can really suit the physical and mental qualities of Romain.”
