"I'd like to see him in a more supportive role": Allan Peiper proposes for Primoz Roglic to tone down his own ambitions

Allan Peiper, strategic advisor at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, spoke bluntly about Primož Roglic’s future and his role in Grand Tours. The Slovenian will target the Vuelta a España exclusively this year, chasing the win that would make him the most successful rider in the race’s history.

"I don’t know if Roglič still has what it takes to win at the very highest level, but I do know he’s doing everything he can to stay there. Very few riders train as hard as he does, and I’ve met very few as dedicated as him," Peiper said in an interview with Siol.

The German team’s advisor said he would like two specific things regarding Roglic:

"On the one hand, I’d love to see him back at his best and winning the Vuelta again, but on the other, I’d also like to see him in a different role. For example, racing the Giro and helping Giulio Pellizzari fight for the overall, and maybe winning a stage himself, but mainly supporting a younger rider with his experience and being at his side in decisive moments. Or, what would be even more important to me, going to the Tour de France with Evenepoel and Lipowitz."

But the Slovenian remains a five-time Grand Tour winner, and stepping down a role is never easy: "The question is, of course, whether Primoz even wants to do that. He has never been in a particularly supportive role, as he has always been good enough to be a team leader. Could he accept such a role, even though he has the Vuelta and the red jersey in mind?"

Peiper, 66, joins Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe this season after years of health issues and a tough battle with prostate cancer. As he explained, his return to elite cycling is not only professional but also personal: a new chapter in which he brings his experience to the team’s young riders while continuing to enjoy the dynamics of racing.

The veteran advisor also praised Tadej Pogacar, without losing sight of Roglic’s potential. "What excites me most about Pogacar is his ability to make differences on any terrain," he noted.