'Jai is a bit older, maybe also a bit wiser' – Red Bull try to maintain balance between former winner Hindley and unrestricted home star Pellizzari at Giro d'Italia

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are navigating a delicate balance between their two Giro d’Italia leaders, Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari, as the race enters its crucial first week. After a challenging stage to Fermo, Pellizzari, the younger rider, was given the freedom to match the pace of race favourite Jonas Vingegaard on the Blockhaus climb, despite the risk of losing time. Team director Christian Pömer defended this approach, emphasising the importance of allowing Pellizzari to race on instinct and test his limits, rather than riding conservatively and potentially missing a career-defining moment. The current general classification sees Pellizzari sitting sixth overall, just behind Hindley in fifth, with Felix Gall of Decathlon CMA CGM sandwiched between them in fourth place. Pömer acknowledged Gall’s impressive climbing credentials and warned that he poses a significant threat in the coming stages, although his relative weakness in time trialling and descending could be exploited by the Red Bull duo. The team remains confident that their co-leadership strategy offers tactical flexibility, especially given Hindley’s experience and proven ability to perform over a three-week Grand Tour. Hindley’s role as co-leader has been a subject of speculation, but Pömer reiterated that the team views both riders as equally capable contenders rather than a clear number one and number two. Hindley, at 29, is considered to be in his prime and demonstrated his form with a strong sprint effort on stage 8. The team believes that having two leaders increases their chances of success, providing options to respond to different race scenarios and challenges posed by rivals like Vingegaard and Gall. Looking ahead, the next stages are pivotal for the overall standings, particularly the summit finish on stage 9 and the 42km time trial from Viareggio to Massa. Pömer highlighted the team’s thorough preparation for the time trial, suggesting that it will not be a disadvantage for their leaders. With the race entering a demanding phase, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are poised to leverage their dual-leader strategy and tactical depth in pursuit of a podium finish in Rome.