For
Primoz Roglic, this victory is sweet vindication. After the heartbreak of the 2020 Tour de France where he lost the Yellow Jersey in the final time-trial to Tadej Pogacar. "He has now seen both sides of the coin," de Cauwer says. "At one point it seemed that he would fail again, but when those last intermediate times came, it was clear. A sublime Roglic. The deserved winner."
With just 14 seconds between them, could Thomas still make a late move for the Maglia Rosa? Asks Vannieuwkerke. "No," de Cauwer replies. "You might expect that from a 21-year-old guy who still wants to move heaven and earth. But not from a 37-year-old Thomas. He has already drawn a line under it."