"I'm happy with this and it makes me optimistic" - Primoz Roglic closing gap to Tour de France podium with 3rd place in first ITT

It's fair to say that Primoz Roglic's 2024 Tour de France didn't start ideally. Is the Slovenian starting to ride himself into the race however? On the stage 7 individual time trial, Roglic gained time on his former teammate Jonas Vingegaard, closing the gap to the podium places in the process.

"I'm tired. I wanted to go faster, but I gave it my all with my performance," reflects the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader honestly in his post-stage interview, having stopped the clock with the 3rd fastest time, losing 34 seconds to stage winner Remco Evenepoel and 22 seconds to the Maillot Jaune wearing Tadej Pogacar, but gaining 3 seconds on the aforementioned Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader, Jonas Vingegaard.

"I can be optimistic. It's been a long time since I rode such a tough seventh stage of the Tour de France," continues Roglic with a wry smile, clearly still in good spirits and showcasing his now typical form of dry humour. "It wasn't such a good sign that I had to start as the first of the favourites, because that means they are a bit better, but I'm happy with this and it makes me optimistic. I'm looking ahead."

In terms of the general classification, Roglic now sits 4th overall, overtaking Juan Ayuso and closing the gap to just 21 seconds on his former teammate Vingegaard. At 1:36 down on such an impressive Pogacar however, it already is beginning to look like Roglic's Maillot Jaune dreams may have to be put on hold for yet another season.