With six stages left to race in the Italian grand tour, Richie is fourth on the general classification, just two minutes and seven seconds back from the maglia rosa. His dream, and months-long project backed by our entire team, is to wear the Giro champion’s shirt on the final podium in Rome.

Richie is determined to make his dream real in the Alps. Richie and his teammates are soaring on a current of momentum after Richie’s stage 11 win in Castelnovo ne' Monti and Kasper’s stage 14 ambush into Nova Gorica. 

They want to light up the last week of this Giro. That’s the only way we will end the race with the maglia rosa.

We sat down with the former Giro winner, Olympic champion, and reigning King of the Mountains of the Tour de France on the final rest day to ask him about his race so far and his ambitions for the final week.

Richie, how are you feeling going into the final week of the Giro?

I feel very good. It has been a Giro full of emotions for the team. We won two stages. That means a lot to the team, winning stages in a grand tour. We are also there in the general classification, so it’s the perfect position to be at right now.

How did your stage 11 win affect your confidence?

The victory was very important for the team and for me. The stage was not looking in our favor, but I played my cards well, raced intelligently, and moved when I had to move. I won in Richie style, how I like it. It didn’t just help my self confidence, but also the confidence of the team. We worked a lot, being in front. Being able to pull it off increased the confidence of the team.

Was it your plan to attack?

No, we did not have a plan. It was a complicated day, that could go to a sprint. But it got chaotic, and I knew how to move and got away with it. We didn’t plan to win, but I played my cards and won.

How do you know when it’s your moment?

It’s experience, from already doing it several times. You know the moments that are key. You develop an instinct. Most of the races I won were won in that way, by reading the race and going at the crucial moment.

How is the atmosphere in the team right now?

Everyone knows his role. When you know your role, you know what you need to do. Everyone is racing very professionally and that makes the difference. There is a lot of confidence, harmony, and that differentiates us.

How do you see the third week playing out?

The road will put everyone in his place. It will come down to legs.

Tell us about your preparation for this Giro?

The plan started last October. That is when I started to work towards this objective. It was not easy, but once we came here I could make clear what my intentions are. It was very important that the team let me prepare it in my way. Doing it the Richie way was the way to do it. I am very calm when I work towards an objective. I know in my head how to do it in the right way. I know what I want. I also was around a lot of professionals, my coach, who prepared me for this, Anna, our nutritionist and the directors, who opened up the way from me to reach my best. The Richie style is easy going, not so much monitoring, a bit more freelance. The results are coming in. I am not stressed and will let my legs do the talking. We are solid. The way to Rome will be hard, but I’m prepared.

How have you changed since you first won this race?

I have not changed a lot, if I’m honest. I changed the way I train. The technology has changed a lot in cycling, so you have to be on the latest trends right now. Fueling changed too. The sport is more calculating than it was in the past, but as a racer I’ve not really changed.

What would it mean to you to win this Giro d’Italia?

It’s what I have worked for, worked so hard for, and would be the cherry on top of our work as a team. It would mean all the suffering, discipline, and character, the not giving up, being far away from family, concentrated only on the bike, not being able to go to your kid’s birthday, your own birthday. It would be the best reward for all of the sacrifices we have made.