"I'm working on my tan for the summer" - Primoz Roglic explains curious Tour de France fashion decision after creating online storm
Cycling
Primoz Roglic caused a sensation online during stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France. Not so much for his on-bike performance either, but more for a curious fashion choice as the Slovenian rode with low socks, something very rarely seen in the modern day peloton.
As mentioned there was a big reaction to Roglic's decision, with the report card somewhat mixed. "Roglic riding with low socks today. Where is the fashion police?" asked Luc Grefte on X (Twitter). Even TNT Sports' social media account got in on the action, posting an image of the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader with the caption: "UCI checking sock length: 👀
Primoz Roglic: try me."
On their post-stage podcast, Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe were also stunned by the fashion choice of Roglic. "Roglic though — no socks. What was that?" Thomas asked in confusion. "Looked awful, didn’t it?" Rowe added.
"100% Dan Bigham’s idea. Probably some theory about cooling the legs. But it looked like a club rider at a rest-day spin. I could have cried," Rowe continued, with Thomas finishing the debate: "Yeah, always thought he looked classy on a bike… until today."
Speaking post-stage, Roglic was asked to explain himself and his sock choice. In typically dry fashion, the Slovenian, smiled and put the decision down to working on his tan lines. "It's hot no? I'm working on my tan for the summer. A bit without the lines," chuckled Roglic.
On the road meanwhile, Roglic was outshone on Hautacam by his young teammate Florian Lipowitz, with the German surging right into podium contention thanks to his 3rd placed finish on stage 12. Roglic however, now sits 7th overall, 7:30 down on his Maillot Jaune wearing compatriot Tadej Pogacar in the general classification and perhaps more importantly, 2:45 down on Remco Evenepoel and a podium place.
Primoz Roglic happy to see Florian Lipowitz riding well and says he's wearing low socks to work on his tan line. 😂 #TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/zICAMIQCEV
— NBC Sports Cycling (@NBCSCycling) July 17, 2025
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And yet, it attracts people, even you. What’s more, it attracts the rival fanboys to fill cyberspace with endless pointless my hero is better than your hero blabla that’s all been heard before and only helps sell the site as an advertising platform. You know what the solution is but most can’t resist. No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- he is doing 460 watts for 35 min to achieve 7 w/kg with VO2 at 96 , just unreal numbers.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just do it, and put up with the consequencesJumpyjohn08-11-2026
- "was a headliner at the Tour de France" Nobody cared about Piddie. Only rivals that were there for Pogi, Jonas, Remco, Sexias, Lipo, Del Toro and they were all expected to lose. Piddie was not even in any conversation.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- exactly, he had an amazing season, but with these overstatements they don‘t do him good.Ketterechts08-11-2026
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