Hindley in top form, but Red Bull puts faith in Roglic: "All I can do is wait and hope"

His overall victory in the Giro was three years ago, and on paper, Hindley is not Roglic's equal. Where the Slovenian rider won this year's Tour of Catalonia in a direct battle with upcoming Giro rival Juan Ayuso, Hindley was beaten by the same Spaniard from UAE Team Emirates-XRG in the Tirreno-Adriatico. In the Tour of the Alps last month, the 28-year-old Australian finished eighth behind Michael Storer (Tudor).

"From my previous experiences, I know that after altitude training, I always need a bit of time before I feel good again and get into the rhythm of racing," a relaxed Hindley told this website in the Alps. "I feel generally okay, but hopefully, it will improve before the Giro. After the Tour of the Alps, it will be about recovery, with a few quiet days and some relaxation. It was a tough race, with intense racing every day. That's good to have in your legs."

Before the Tour of the Alps, he had also been positive about his experiences in the Tirreno in March, where he finished fifth in the GC. "The Tirreno-Adriatico was fine; I tried to get the most out of it. I felt good, and then I went back up to altitude. After that training camp, I feel even better and stronger." Sports director Bernard Eisel agreed: "Jai looks promising. He hasn't crashed or been ill, which is essential nowadays."

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On paper, the choice of Roglic as Giro leader makes sense, but Hindley's results in 2025 were very much in line with those of 2022 when he proved to be by far the strongest in the third week of the Giro. That year, he finished fifth in the Tirreno and thirteenth in the Tour of Catalonia. He only showed his best form in the Giro. Now that he has completed his preparations without any setbacks, Eisel is hoping for the same from Hindley. "You can prepare yourself as well as possible, but if you get sick, you miss a week of good training. And that costs you a few percent."

"With setbacks like that, you're often talking about the third week of a grand tour, which is typically where it's decided. But if you can start a grand tour at the top of your game and in good shape, then anything is possible," says Eisel. And that's exactly what he's been missing in the last two seasons. In 2023, Hindley briefly wore the yellow jersey in the Tour de France after winning a stage, but he crashed and dropped to seventh place in the GC. In 2024, he suffered physical setbacks and could only play a domestique role for Roglic on the same Tour.

"I really hope to be the best Hindley in the Giro and the races that follow later in the year. I want to be more consistent again," he says. "I don't think I'm far off my 2023 level, but of course, the level in cycling is also growing. Nowadays, it really doesn't matter where you race, and I mean that. Whether you're doing the Tour Down Under or the Tour de France, the level is always super high. You have to deliver quality and be at your best if you want to win." Eisel: "If you want to go for the GC, you have to be there every day, and that's mentally and physically demanding."

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According to Eisel, a diesel engine like Hindley is made for the grand tours. "It's with good reason that he has already won the Giro." Frederik Wandahl, the young Red Bull rider at altitude with Roglic in March – before Catalonia – and with Hindley in April – before the Tour of the Alps – agrees. "I spent two weeks at altitude with Jai on the Teide, and we're good friends, so I know him well. He's on the right track, especially after a year in which not everything went well for him. I think he can be better than in 2023; he was really good on the Teide."

But according to Wandahl, Roglic was also impressive on his way to overall victory in Spain. "I already knew he was in good shape and full of confidence. When Primoz is confident, you know he's going to ride well. Am I impressed when I see them riding? Well, they're just people, aren't they? They train hard, but they're just like me. That's always a nice reality check. Jai and Primoz are different riders, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Primoz is very relaxed and knows exactly what he can do on the bike. The same goes for Jai, who knows what he needs."

Wandahl, who was hoping to make his Giro debut but has been overlooked by Red Bull, then drops an important hint: "For the Giro, Jai will normally be more of a domestique for Primoz because he is one of the main favorites. But there will be opportunities for Jai, and he has also set his sights on the Vuelta, which is an important goal for him." Hindley did not want to comment on that before the Tour of the Alps. "We'll have to wait and see. Having two options is good, but ultimately, it's not up to me. I ride for the team, and they make the decisions, so I can only hope for the best."

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Hindley seems to have the odds stacked against him. The answer is vague but clear when we ask Eisel about the climber's position. "We always have our team tactics and secrets, but let's be honest: every option you can use for the GC in a grand tour is another option. I've been in teams where we've had to switch from plan A to plan B, so it's good to have plans A, B, and C ready so you can play tactically. These are options you wouldn't have with just one leader." Roglic seems to be plan A here, with Hindley having to decide with Daniel Felipe Martínez, who is B.

"These days, you see racing every day in grand tours, with teams coming up with a new strategy every day," Eisel continues. "We've seen leaders go on the attack and really set the race alight. With the unknown roads in Albania, the gravel stage in Tuscany, and the time trials, there is a lot of unfamiliar terrain where you have to adapt every day. Those tactics can change every day." However, after five days of the Tour of the Alps, Hindley seemingly reluctantly concluded: "Normally it will be Primoz; he is the most important leader."

That will not be the least because of the physical qualities of Roglic and Hindley. One is explosive; the other is not. "It's important to be explosive in cycling today, with all the bonus seconds. I'm trying to improve that, but I'm just more suited to grand tours. That's my preference, but I must go with the flow and adapt," says Hindley. Eisel clarifies this a little: "Ultimately, it's all about form, which goes hand in hand with freshness and good recovery. Add a little grinta to that, and you'll go a long way."

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])