"I believe it's possible. Primoz can deal with this challenge" - Rolf Aldag insists Roglic is capable of Giro d'Italia - Tour de France double
Cycling
In 2025, Primoz Roglic takes on the task of a Giro d'Italia - Tour de France double for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. According to team sports director Rolf Aldag, the Slovenian is more than capable of emulating his compatriot Tadej Pogacar from 2024 and winning both the Maglia Rosa and Maillot Jaune.
"It wasn't a matter of telling him he had to do it. It was a team decision," Aldag explains in quotes collected by Siol about the plan to balance both Italian and French Grand Tour goals in the coming season. "If we win the Giro, the pressure would disappear. That would give more opportunities for the Tour, both in terms of strategy and expectations."
As mentioned, Pogacar took on the Giro in early 2024 and actually arrived at the Tour de France later that summer in arguably the best form of his life. Has seeing this from the UAE leader inspired the rest of the his rivals that a Giro - Tour double could be the way forward? "I think it's a question of how you do it. If you decide, you have to use new approaches that are mostly related to training and not to racing," Aldag answers, expressing his belief that Roglic is more than capable of doing the double. "I believe it's possible. I believe Primoz can deal with this challenge given the experience he has. Do you know why? He was physically completely beaten up at the Tour, then he did a psychological reset, went on a quick rehabilitation and in just four weeks prepared for the Vuelta and won it. This shows his resilience and adaptability."
Although it's not confirmed as of yet, the prospect of Roglic's former teammate Jonas Vingegaard appearing at the Giro remains heavily rumoured. Regardless of the Dane's involvement or not though, Aldag insists Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe plans are set. "To be honest, we are focused on ourselves," he concludes. "Well, and we would like to have an exciting, interesting race that we would win. If Jonas decides to come and we end up winning, it would be nice to beat him. We respect the cyclists, there are many combinations, so we can't plan whether Jonas will come or not. It's great for cycling fans if they are the best in the race. We only have influence on our plan and we have to stick to it."
He could potentially win the Giro again, although if Jonas races the Giro he would have to have sickness or a bad crash to let Primoz pass him, but the Tour is out of his sights, he missed his chance in 2020. Too much top competition at the Tour, but he could possibly score a top five but more realistically a top ten at his age.
If you consider what Geraint achieved from 34 on and that Primoz is in theory at least as good or slightly better I’d not put 1 maybe 2 podiums past him, all he needs for both is just to do his thing and to have a year when luck is a bit in his side, ir at least one or the other rivals suffers some of his GT experiences. Some guys mature like red wines, especially the ones that didn’t overcook their base.
Do you realize Primož just keeps getting better each year? Surely tadej and Jonas are definitely above him but he's arguably still a top dog, if he goes to a race he's automatically a favorite to win.
No, Primoz is not a top dog any longer. He's older now, he requires a weak field to win a GT, that's just the simple truth. His best bet to win the Tour was in 2020. If he makes it the Tour this year, his absolute best accomplishment will be top five, but more than likely a top ten. And he should should take pride in that accomplishment, he's 35 now.
When you say a weak field what do you mean by that ? There are only 2 other riders above him and arguably Remco is at least as good or better. He won the vuelta quite comfortably despite fracture in his vertebrae and performed his best numbers ever in some stages. His TT is pretty good and he can hold his own, obviously I don't think he's as good as tadej or Jonas yet he's up there.
Do you think the 2024 Vuelta was comfortable for him? It was not. More young guns will be coming out this year, he's an older rider who needs everything to go his way. He could potentially win the Giro again but he will not fare well in the Tour if he makes it.
He did a convincing display at Ancares doing peak numbers even without optimal preparation in a team that is weaker in grand tours. Sure he's getting older but the narrative that he's in his last year is ridiculous.
Well not his last year, but my argument is he can't he win the Tour. Remember this thread during the upcoming Tour, btw, I do admire Primoz.
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- Good, hopefully Jonas goes also so we get a nice duelvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- right? i think it’s hungry journalists that fuel this, and i understand the jam they can be in trying to create stories, but you’d hate to think ANYONE is failing to appreciate how RARE someone like van der poel is (or how LUCKY we are to have both mvdp and pog racing at the same time). a little perspective is a good thing…OCexile03-04-2025
- Anyone know how long that 213km ride took? Coz without that the segment speeds don’t reveal anything surprising. If it took him Less than 5h ok but otherwise it was just some interval training for him.Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- Hinault was even lighter than Pog at 62 kg when he won PR in 1981, beating Roger van Vlaeminck no less (albeit at the fag end of the latter's career), so it can be done.Cooldude03-04-2025
- Having to shoulder too much pressure from the Belgain public too much that he made a tactical mistake. That's what public pressure does to you. Poor Wout! Hopefully, lady luck befalls him soon.
KerisVroom03-04-2025 - If he's very lucky maybe he can podium a Tour one season, I certainly don't believe he can win it, evervappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Yeah, as if fans would now have acquired a right to an MVPD every generation ;-)Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- Yeah not this year anyway but worth keeping an eye on him (and some others) in future.Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- poor kid, saddled with all that “next mvdp” crap. eeesh…OCexile03-04-2025
- I don't think so, maybe in a different GT, not in the Tour. Last year, to be 3rd, he would have to be better than Remco. And he wasn't, on any terrainvappaxbipmv03-04-2025