Speaking to TNT Sports in a post-stage interview however,
Derek Gee, who himself looked very impressive on stage 15, rising to 5th in the general classification, refused to completely rule out the 2023 Giro d'Italia winner from producing an incredible comeback in the remaining stages. "A guy like Roglic, you can't count him out," explained the Canadian leader of
Israel - Premier Tech. "Especially with a third week like that."
Rather than Gee's own team, or the team of the race leader Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), it was the
INEOS Grenadiers that were the main instigators in putting the pressure on Roglic and ultimately dropping him. "INEOS have been racing like that all race, it definitely makes for some exciting racing but as a rider it hurts!" Gee laughs in reflection. "You see them lining up and you go 'ah here we go again'!"
With a rest day now upcoming on Monday, Gee, Roglic and the rest of the general classification hopefuls now have a day to take stock, refresh and maybe even refocus their goals for the remainder of the race.