Who is Thomas Gloag? Roglič’s latest Giro lieutenant is a mathematician charting a ‘very steep learning curve’

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Who is Thomas Gloag, Primož Roglič’s newest lieutenant at the Giro d’Italia?

It turns out the WorldTour rookie isn’t just a lucky reserve rider.

Gloag is a mathematician with Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy on his speed dial and a rider hyped as Britain’s hottest new climbing talent.

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Gloag only started racing late in his teens and now, just five months after his three-year deal with Jumbo-Visma expired, the tall, lean Londoner is one of the most unlikely riders in the Giro d’Italia peloton.

“As a young man, it’s super exciting to be here,” he said on Saturday.

“I didn’t have a big tour planned at all this year, it wasn’t ideal in terms of the plan I had, but for me it’s so special to be here.”

When Jan Tratnik’s training injury on Friday made Jumbo-Visma their fourth Giro rider in a week, Gloag was the last reserve player.

A whirlwind 18-hour turnaround, with bikes being grabbed and bundled together for a flight out of Andorra, made the 21-year-old Neopro one of the youngest to roll down the ramp at Saturday’s Abruzzo TT.

And that’s just the beginning of Gloag’s Italian adventure.

Stomp pedals, learn math

Gloag arrived in the 11th hour of the Giro after a quiet, crushing start to his first full year on the WorldTour.

Finishing second behind Tao Geoghegan Hart on a crucial hilly stage of Volta a Valenciana in February and a string of other high-profile top 10 climbers handed Gloag a ‘reserve rider’ spot to the Giro d’Italia and a ticket to the pre-Corsica pink Camping on the Teide.

Not bad for a driver who admits that a few years ago he barely knew what he was doing.

“The last few months have been a very steep learning curve,” said Gloag VeloNews.

“The approach to training here with Jumbo-Visma is completely different than before, and the nutrition side. Everything is really new. It really feels like I’m a beginner.”

Gloag’s instructive rookie season with his top Tour de France team was postponed in fast forward Saturday.

The Brit’s 10-day ride to fourth overall at the 2021 Baby Giro is his longest race to date and he previously admitted weaknesses in descending, refueling and positioning.

“There’s still a lot to learn, but it’s been really positive,” said Gloag. “With the resources that the team has, I feel very well positioned.”

Luckily for Gloag, learning is his thing.

“I studied mathematics at the Open University. But since I joined the team it’s been put on the back burner a bit just because I have a lot less time on my hands,” said Gloag.

“I used to be able to train, rest a bit and then do a bit of math, while now I’m always thinking about the next day. I’m now doing everything else I can to keep my mind active instead.”

Before a bike race, many riders scroll through Instagram or make music.

Meanwhile, Gloag feeds the intellectual beast, finds out about the region or researches the sights. He explained local forts and mosques on the UAE tour and will no doubt be devouring the Giro’s ‘Garibaldi’ road book over the next three weeks.

“It’s fascinating to be around racing, you learn so many new things, see different cultures,” he said.

Pidcock, Healy and Trinity’s WorldTour Academy

Gloag became the ninth Briton on the Giro start list as he jetted into Abruzzo early Saturday morning.

And like many of his British-born WorldTour peers, Gloag landed his grand tour entrance after traversing a well-trodden path of British talent.

Gloag was born in Dulwich, London, and very close to the historic – and still working – Herne Hill Velodrome.

He counts Ineos speedster Ethan Hayter and Bahrain Victorious runaway Fred Wright as old friends, having learned their trade with the local VC London team, and has a contact book any agent would be begging for.

Three years with Trinity Racing, Britain’s answer to Hagen’s Berman Axeon, put Gloag in the orbit of Tom Pidcock, Ben Turner and fellow Giro novice and Ardennes star Ben Healy.

“I’m good friends with Tom [Pidcock]and Ben Healy,” he said.

“My first race was when Tom won the Baby Giro. A guy like him, he’s a guy I’ve always looked up to and if I need advice I can always just send him a message and ask him a few questions.”

Gloag lauds former Team Sky racer and current Ineos Grenadiers employee Ian Stannard as an essential cog in his rapid journey towards the Corsica pink.

“I had Ian as my principal at Trinity. He was there, did that, got the t-shirt as a pro rider. I learned a lot from him about the mentality it takes to be a professional motorcyclist,” he said.

“That prepared me for the move to Jumbo-Visma. I still have a long way to go, but the foundations were laid at Trinity.”

Gloag admits he still doesn’t know much about his abilities after a short but quick rise to pro cycling.

“The next three years is about first figuring out what kind of rider I am and second where I look like I fit into the professional cycling world,” he said.

Three weeks of racing through the mountains and chaos of Italy will no doubt help lead the way.