From Milan to Mount Teide: Primoz Roglic begins Vuelta focused 2026 build

After spending part of last week at the Winter Olympics in Milan as a supporter of Slovenia’s athletes, Primoz Roglic has now returned to the demands of his own 2026 campaign.

Roglic confirmed via Instagram that he has arrived in Tenerife, sharing images from Mount Teide as he begins an altitude training block ahead of the new season. The post was simple, but the location speaks loudly. For cycling fans, Teide rarely means anything casual.

Mount Teide has long been one of the peloton’s preferred altitude bases. Riders head there when long-term objectives are clear, and preparation needs to be structured.

For Roglic, 2026 is shaping around a defined target: the Vuelta a Espana. A four-time overall winner, he enters the year with the opportunity to chase a record fifth title. That pursuit alone justifies an early altitude commitment.

The evolving structure at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has also influenced how his season is built. With different leadership dynamics around the Tour de France, Roglic’s programme appears more selectively focused. A Vuelta-centred campaign rewards patience and endurance rather than early-season peaks. Teide in February fits that model precisely.

Roglic’s appearance in Milan last week was rooted in his unique sporting journey. A former ski jumper turned Olympic cycling champion, he attended the Winter Games as a supporter, backing Slovenia’s athletes and reconnecting with the environment that shaped his early career.

But that chapter was brief.

The transition to Tenerife signals a return to routine. Altitude blocks are not about public moments or ceremonial appearances. They are about accumulation, consistency, and marginal gains that surface months later in the heat of late-summer racing.

From Slovenian House in Cortina to the volcanic slopes of Teide, the shift is clear. The Olympic visit was about national support. The Tenerife camp is about personal ambition.

For those tracking Roglic’s 2026 trajectory, this is the first concrete sign that the long road toward another Vuelta bid is underway.