Primoz Roglic on Tour de France heartbreak: "2020 wasn't a disaster, but the way I lost that Tour hurt"
Cycling
In an extensive interview, Primoz Roglic has discussed many topics including his main goals into 2026; the Tour de France; his teammate Oier Lazkano's doping case; his possible retirement and more. The four-time Vuelta winner has 91 pro wins and could reach the magical '100' number this year whilst beating the Vuelta victory record that is currently held by himself and Roberto Heras is also possible.
Close to the 100 pro wins, he discusses the possibility of reaching that. "If I can win a few, I'm very happy. With the pace I've been on since last year, I think I'd need ten more years to get to a hundred. But yes, I hope I can add a few next year," he said in an interview with Nacho Labarga in Marca. "I still enjoy cycling. Being happy is what matters most to me. Winning the Tour de France would be the dream. Winning five Vueltas would also be something very special. But, above all, to keep enjoying it."
A race he could aim for would be Tour de Suisse, the last of the high-level World Tour stage-races that is missing in his palmarès, and would have him stand out from his competitors once again. "It is unfair to comment prematurely. There are my wishes, the team's wishes and everyone's wishes. We have to find something that fits between us. When it's clear, we'll know. The important thing is not to choose races, it's to get to the point where you can really win".
Could 2026 also be his last year? "I don't know right now," he replies, not denying it either. At Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe he certainly has lost influence with the rise of Florian Lipowitz and the signing of Remco Evenepoel now. "First I need to know what schedule I will do and how I feel competing. I prefer to go step by step, see my level, my motivations and the challenges ahead. Then we'll talk about that."
Tour de France
Asked about the 2020 Tour de France, Roglic had a honest response. "The Tour de France. It would be great to win it. Maybe 2020 wasn't a disaster, but the way I lost that Tour hurt." Right now that defeat against Tadej Pogacar on the Planche des Belles Filles time trial is what came in the way of him having all Grand Tour in his palmarès. It also happened in the discipline where he usually thrived.
But now Roglic is in a different phase of his career, with the German team to which he signed with in 2024: "We've won a lot of races, we've written a little bit of history. The team keeps growing. Every year it's a new team, with new people, and we need to prove it on the road. But yes, I think we can do it."
And in 2025 the team saw the metheoric rise of Florian Lipowitz, third at the Criterium du Dauphiné and Tour de France behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. The veteran was asked if his teammate is capable of competing for the win at the Grand Boucle: "To compete, of course he can. Last year he already got on the podium and made very solid steps".
"He has been ahead in several top-level races, so in that sense there is no doubt. Another thing is to win: that is always more complex and it is difficult to state it that way, in a clear-cut way. But he's there, he's already proven it, and I see no reason to think he can't repeat - and even improve - that level."
Asked about his former teammate Oier Lazkano, Roglic gave a diplomatic answer, not knowing many details about the situation. "It's a shitty situation for him. I didn't spend much time with him, I think we only coincided in the Algarve. It's a difficult time."
Roglic was also asked by the Spanish news outlet about Juan Ayuso, perhaps Spain's biggest hope of regaining a foothold in the Grand Tour scene and to take a victory in the next few years: "Anything is possible. If I won grand tours after being a ski jumper until I was 22, anyone can do it. There is so much talent now. They're coming on very strong very early."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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