"It will be nice to try and compete against him" - Jonas Vingegaard relishing chance to take on Primoz Roglic in 2024

In 2024, the reigning two-time, back-to-back Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard will have one extra competitor to face in the battle for the Maillot Jaune as former Jumbo-Visma teammate Primoz Roglic is expected to lead BORA - hansgrohe's challenge.

"It’s one more opponent, so it’s easier to have him in your own team," the Dane evaluates in quotes collected by GCN and the Jumbo-Visma leader looks to be relishing the chance to prove himself against his former mentor next year. "Of course it would be better to be teammates. I learned a lot from Primož and I understand also why he is leaving. It will be nice to try and compete against him."

The reaction within the team to Roglic's departure has been somewhat mixed so far. “If people want to part ways, I have too much respect for Primož to make a big deal out of it, and he for us,” Jumbo-Visma's boss Richard Plugge told GCN earlier this week. “Of course we are on good terms and still friends. He’s still the big man who started in 2016 to help us to win. He will always be part of our history. We cannot erase it and do not want to erase it. We’re so proud of what we did together."

Sports director Merijn Zeeman however was slightly more critical, citing how Roglic was the odd man out at the Vuelta a Espana this year. "Seven riders unanimously agreed: this (Sepp Kuss as winner of the Vuelta, ed.) must be the final result. Primoz had a more difficult time with this."

In any way, the potential of Primoz Roglic taking on the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss in 2024 is a mouthwatering prospect and surely something that excites all cycling fans.