"Cycling is my job, but my family means everything to me" - Primoz Roglic admits retirement is looming as he skips Vuelta a Espana defence
Cycling
Primoz Roglic has admitted that thoughts of retirement are growing stronger, even hinting at a possible return to his roots in winter sports once his cycling career draws to a close. Speaking at the Profronde of Etten-Leur in the Netherlands, the Slovenian suggested that his time in the World Tour may be limited, with family priorities and fresh ambitions beginning to take precedence.
“Nowadays it’s about survival, and at my age the day I stop is getting closer,” Roglic told HLN. “I’m not 20 anymore, so naturally I look at my future differently. I want to do other things in life as well. Maybe go back to the winter sports where it all started for me. No, not ski jumping – that’s in the past. But the Winter Olympics? That would be pretty cool, even if for now it’s unrealistic.”
Before a devastating crash forced him to switch disciplines in his early twenties, Roglic was a gifted ski jumper, finishing second at the Junior World Championships. That past life continues to colour his reflections on what comes next. As he joked, turning 40 and flying through the snow at the 2030 Games in the French Alps wouldn’t be the worst way to bow out: “Ageing well, like a fine wine.”
Family first
Roglic’s remarks come at a moment when he has chosen to forgo defending his Vuelta a Espana title in order to spend time with his wife and two young children. “I can’t be everywhere anymore,” he said. “At home I have a wife and two children, and they deserve my attention. Cycling is my job, but my family means everything to me. Above all, I’m a loving husband and father – only then a sportsman.”
The 35-year-old recently completed the Tour de France, finishing eighth overall but never looking in contention for stage wins. Even so, he was satisfied with the achievement. “Although I wasn’t always at my best, I genuinely enjoyed making it to the third week and finishing the Tour,” he said. A future Tour return seems unlikely: “I take things day by day.”
Roglic claimed a top 10 on GC at the 2025 Tour de France
The endgame
Whether Roglic sees out his Red Bull contract or chooses to step away sooner remains to be seen. What is clear is that one of cycling’s most decorated stage racers is beginning to look beyond the bike, openly contemplating what comes next after nearly a decade at the top of the sport.
Pressed directly on his motivation, Roglic gave a typically enigmatic answer: “We’ll see.” He later offered a more candid glimpse into his mindset. “With my age, the day I stop is coming closer. I want to do other things in life too.”
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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- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
- 36 and Ineos have bought a rider on the downward slope. Bring back Dave and Rob who could manage the team. How are Ineos going to win a grand tour with people past their sell by date.paultryan200214-11-2026
- Mmmm would he be making these comments when he was on the richest team when riding. I think not i suspect. If we want money put into the sport we need sponsors who are prepared to put the money in. No disrespect but his team are 2nd or 3rd div in football terms with riders over the hill or 2nd string riders. If i was a sponsor i would be looking at what publicity am i getting back and Tudor really are just making up the numbers really.paultryan200214-11-2026
- I see (elsewhere) that Alaphilippe had more to say than what got relayed in this stub. Me: he was very good early but his latter third trajectory was the pits. His old boss did what he could (huffed and puffed) but Julian couldn't get his greatness back. Sometimes I wonder if crashes that didn't look like much changed the course of the rider.flyer14-11-2026
- I wouldn't classify it as a gift because the nasty consequences of taking it from Sepp would have been great and would persist and he knew it.flyer14-11-2026
- Ok. Tratnik's good and Red Bull's better so Tratnik may get what he wants.flyer14-11-2026
- Ok. So just saying he wasn't enjoying racing anymore is some kind of explanation? Me saying I don't enjoy his explanation is more explaining than he did.flyer14-11-2026
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