"If you don't shoot, you don't score!" - Primoz Roglic tests his legs but must settle for second on stage 2 of Criterium du Dauphine 2024

In the first real test of the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine and the first challenge for Primoz Roglic since returning from his crash at the Itzulia Basque Country, the Slovenian looked impressive, taking second place on the day.

"If you don't shoot, you don't score!" Roglic reflects in his typical fashion in a pre-stage interview posted to BORA - hansgrohe's official social media pages after their team leader took second in a punchy and foggy sprint behind Uno-X Mobility's Magnus Cort Nielsen. "It was close but it was hard to really judge there at the end."

"There was still quite a big group and everyone is super-fit," continues the 34-year-old, who all being well, will lead BORA - hansgrohe at the upcoming Tour de France and potentially offers pre-race favourite Tadej Pogacar the biggest opposition in his quest for back to back Grand Tour victories. "In the end, just one was faster."

With BORA - hansgrohe having arguably the strongest team in the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine, that strength was on full view in the final climb as Roglic had the duo Aleksandr Vlasov and Jai Hindley working on the front of the peloton. "A result will come sooner or later," Roglic insists. "The most important thing is, all the guys showed a good level, showed a commitment and like I said, I'm a bit disappointed for sure because yeah, at the end I couldn't finish it off. It was just a bit too late."

2024 Criterium du Dauphine stage 2 results: