Michel Wuyts argues Primoz Roglic to BORA transfers leaves Jumbo-Visma with a hole and destabilizes German team - "Born winner Roglic ended up helplessly in the background"

Michel Wuyts has talked in a recent interview about Primoz Roglic, BORA - hansgrohe and Cian Uijtdebroeks with relatively surprising statements. In his point of view his departure leaves Jumbo-Visma fragile, and puts a dent into BORA - hansgrohe's plans of keeping their already existing talent.

"Ralph Denk (BORA - hansgrohe manager, ed.) is blundering. You don't sell one of the world's greatest talents away. BORA is putting him on sale," Michel Wuyts said in words to Het Laatste Nieuws. He refers to Cian Uijtdebroeks, whom the team says they are unsure if they can keep him beyond the 2024 season. The Belgian climber has been performing very well in his first two years as a pro, but has shown himself unhappy with some factors within the team and is a high target for when his contract is due to end.

"General Denk thinks he is too assertive. He (Uijtdebroeks, ed.) criticized his teammate Aleksandr Vlasov and the team's time trial equipment. He's too talented to play slave. He's an attacker." In the same interview however Wuyts hints that BORA isn't the right team for him, and that his next destination should be evident. "INEOS would be a great team for him." With the entry of Primoz Roglic into the team, it's possible that the 20-year old's freedom will take a hit and that will ultimately harm their chances of keeping him on board.

Wuyts continues his declarations, arguing that Roglic made the decision to leave Jumbo-Visma over a year ago at the Tour de France, where he supported Jonas Vingegaard after suffering two fractured vertebrae in a crash days before. "He successfully played the role of decoy on the Galibier. His teammate Vingegaard reaped the benefits. Born winner Roglic ended up helplessly in the background. The jetty for his crossing to BORA was ready there."

The decision is widely argued to have been made after this Vuelta a Espana where he had to let go of his personal ambitions due to the performance of Sepp Kuss throughout the race. This is further supported by the fact that Roglic and Jumbo-Visma decided to end the contract prematurely this fall, not in 2022.

The Belgian analyst sees Jumbo-Visma lacking into the 2024 season, and that the departure of the Slovenian will leave a hole within the Dutch team that hasn't been filled by any signing. "Besides Vingegaard, I don't see any other rider who wins stage races in abundance. His departure will leave a void."