Vlasov's participation in the World Championships questioned due to Russian nationality: "It's tough, what should I do with the staff and all that?"

Aleksandr Vlasov will start his 2024 season on Wednesday in Mallorca. In this season, the climber is expected to play a significant role in the Tour de France plan with Primoz Roglic, although he will also have ample opportunities to chase personal results himself. IDLProCycling.com spoke to him on the eve of the new cycling year.

Vlasov is already starting his third season with Ralph Denk's team and has made an impressive showing multiple times. He has been a contender in classics, stage races, and grand tours, but the really big catch (read: a major breakout) is still missing. With the arrival of Roglic, the team aims to help riders like Vlasov take a step forward, as communicated to the press.

Aleksandr! First and foremost: how was your winter?

"Good, it went by quickly. That's always the case in the off-season, the holidays are never enough. However, I did manage to have a nice vacation and get some good rest, so now I'm ready for the season again."

In it, the Tour de France will be central, where you will support Primoz Roglic. Was that at your own request or at the team's request?

"I asked for it myself, but I think the team already had the same idea. It's the biggest race in the world and with the finish in Nice, I see it as a special edition, because I live in Monaco myself."

With Roglic, you're also going all out for the win. Does that make it special, knowing that in a way you could make history?

"It's different. We have full confidence in Primoz, he's a rider who can win the Tour. That's also the goal for the team, and we're all going for it, which I think is great. Of course, we don't know what the final result will be yet, but it will be a great experience anyway. For myself, I am sure that I will learn a lot from it, also looking towards the future."

What did you think when the rumors about Roglic started circulating for the first time?

"I thought it was great news, a nice surprise. I like riding with stars because you can learn a lot from them: how do they approach things, how do they race? He also lives in Monaco, so we sometimes talk during training. Primoz is very relaxed, friendly, and open, I really think he's a great guy. That's also nice to see, because if a team leader feels good, you also go into it in a good way yourself."

Do you need his arrival? So far, the grand tours have had mixed results. You've ridden seven, with three times DNF, but also three times top ten.

"That's true. I've finished fourth in the Giro once, but I also didn't finish twice. Last season with covid and the first time I had stomach problems on day one."

And then all your preparation is for nothing, zero, nada.

"Yeah, that's really a terrible feeling. Especially in the Giro, because in the preparation for that race you have to skip a lot of nice spring races. Catalonia, Basque Country, the Ardennes classics, you name it... and then you get sick right away in the Giro, that sucks. Your half-season is then immediately gone, so that's also THE reason I asked for the Tour now. I want to do well in the spring too."

Which races should we think of?

"I will start in Mallorca, then I go to the Tour of Valencia. After that, I'll go on altitude training and then ride Paris-Nice, the Tour of Catalonia, probably Liège-Bastogne-Liège, maybe the Tour of Romandy, and then the preparation for the Tour begins, with a high-altitude camp and the Critérium du Dauphiné. It's a great program."

In recent seasons you've also done well in one-day races. You've already won Emilia, podiumed in the Flèche Wallonne, the Tour of Lombardy, and the Clasica San Sebastian. Why only Liège now? Are you thinking of the World Championships, for example?

"I might also ride the Flèche Wallonne, by the way. And with my nationality (Vlasov was born Russian, ed.), it's also difficult to do the World Championships. I'm allowed to ride, but I still doubt it. It's tough, what should I do with the staff and all that? I would like to ride there, it's a course that we as good climbers don't often get. But we'll see that when the time comes."

Your contract with BORA-hansgrohe expires at the end of 2024, is that something you'll be dealing with in the coming year?

"2023 was not my best year, but I don't have stress or pressure. I know I can ride good results, so it will all go smoothly. I don't know yet where my future will lie, but that's something that will come naturally. I just do my best, as always."

Do you have a long-term ambition?

"I still really enjoy doing stage races, but I haven't yet podiumed in a grand tour. That's something I would really like, it's my dream."

Can you point out what the big difference is between a one-week stage race and a grand tour? There are always those types of riders who can do very well for one week but have a harder time when it becomes three weeks. Are you one of those riders?

(laughs) "The difference is two weeks, that's it."

"You have to stay focused for 21 days, especially as a classification rider. You never feel relaxed, not even on a flat day. Anything can happen, so you have to be very good at dealing with stress and at the same time recover. With a few heavy mountain stages in a row, you also have to constantly have that motivation to keep going."

We have to wrap up: when do you consider 2024 successful? Both in terms of individual motivation and team ambitions?

"For the team, the Tour is the goal, definitely. If I am part of a winning Tour team, that's something I would cherish forever. That would be very beautiful."