“He’s one of the highest-paid riders in the peloton... Why does he look like he’s on vacation?” – Chris Horner piles pressure on Primoz Roglic amid Romandie struggles
Cycling
Primoz Roglic’s Tour de Romandie has quickly become a story of expectation versus reality, and after stage 3, that gap is beginning to draw increasingly blunt criticism.
For Chris Horner, the contrast could not be clearer. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former Vuelta a Espana winner framed Roglic’s performance not just around what happened on the road, but what is expected from a rider of his standing.
“This guy used to be a first-page rider,” Horner said, before sharpening the point further. “He’s one of the highest-paid riders in the peloton.”
That perspective set the tone for what followed, as Horner turned his attention to Roglic’s display on the decisive climb. “Why does he look like he’s on vacation here, dropping off after doing some short pulls?”'
A moment that summed up the stage
If that line captured the feeling, the moment that triggered it came closer to the summit. “You’re 2.2 kilometres from the top of the climb and you’ve got to take a couple of bottles at this moment. This makes no sense to me,” Horner said, pointing to Roglic’s move towards the feed zone while the race was still being shaped.
That decision stood out immediately, not just because of the action itself, but because of what was happening around it. “This makes no sense to me.”
Primoz Roglic at the 2026 Tour de Romandie
From control to collapse
Earlier on the climb, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe had taken control of the peloton through Daniel Felipe Martinez, increasing the tempo in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to put pressure on the race.
Roglic had briefly been present near the front as that move developed. But that presence did not last. As the pace increased and the group began to fracture, Roglic drifted backwards, eventually losing contact while the race continued to evolve ahead of him.
For Horner, the contrast with events behind him only deepened the confusion. “How is it that Roglic got dropped from Dorian Godon and the INEOS riders back there at the same point in time?” he asked.
Godon, notably, had been distanced earlier on the climb, was chasing behind, and still found a way back into the front group before going on to win the stage for INEOS Grenadiers.
A team plan without clarity
The questions did not stop with Roglic alone. Horner also turned his attention to the broader Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe approach, particularly the decision to drive the pace on the climb without a clear outcome.
“I don’t know if I like this move,” he said. “That’s only four riders, and only two can do the work. One’s GC and one’s their sprinter.”
As the climb progressed, the effort began to fragment. Riders dropped away, the group reshaped, and by the summit, the intended impact of that move had failed to materialise.
Pattern of confusion
The reaction to stage 3 builds on what had already been a difficult narrative earlier in the race.
On stage 2, Roglic lost more than two minutes to his general classification rivals on a day that proved manageable for a large group of riders. Eurosport commentators Thomas Bay and Anders Lund questioned both the tactics and the wider implications, with Bay suggesting Roglic was “riding in his own world” and Lund describing the approach as “completely idiotic”.
The same themes resurfaced here. A rider briefly visible at the front, then absent. A team move without a clear outcome. A race that developed without him.
For Horner, the conclusion was less about a single mistake and more about a growing lack of clarity. “What is going on?”
With Tadej Pogacar maintaining control of the general classification and other teams continuing to take their opportunities, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe’s position has shifted.
Florian Lipowitz remains their primary contender, but the dual leadership dynamic that once offered tactical flexibility has largely disappeared. For Roglic, the questions are no longer isolated to one stage. They are beginning to form a pattern, one that is becoming harder to ignore with each passing day.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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