OPINION: Primoz Roglic’s decision to race the Giro d’Italia shows that he is content to not win the Tour de France

Few riders in cycling history have displayed the ability to come back from setback after setback, crash after crash, like Primoz Roglic. A former ski jumper turned cyclist, Roglic's journey from Slovenia's winter slopes to the summits of grand tours has been one of the stories of the past decade in cycling. He has emerged as one of the greatest riders of his generation, boasting a palmares that includes four Vuelta a España titles, a Giro d’Italia victory, and a host of other prestigious wins. However, there is one glaring omission on his résumé: the Tour de France.

For years, Roglic has suffered horrible luck and been unable to claim ultimate prize, and once again in 2024 he suffered a crash that dumped him out of the race. And now, with the announcement that his main focus in 2025 will be the Giro d’Italia as well as the Tour, it seems Roglic himself might be coming to terms with the possibility that the yellow jersey will never be his.

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Roglic’s Tour de France nightmare

For many cycling fans, Roglic’s name will forever be tied to those incredible three weeks of racing at the 2020 Tour de France. That edition of the race produced one of the most heart-wrenching finales in not just cycling history, but in sports history. Roglic, riding for Team Jumbo-Visma, seemed poised to win his first yellow jersey after leading for much of the race. With the support of a dominant team, Roglic held a comfortable lead going into the final time trial on the penultimate day.

But cycling, like life, is rarely predictable. Tadej Pogacar, his young Slovenian compatriot, produced the ride of a lifetime on the Planche des Belles Filles, overturning a 57-second deficit to claim the yellow jersey and usurp his countryman. Roglic, shell-shocked and defeated, was left to process one of the most dramatic collapses in Tour history.

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It wasn’t just the loss itself that stung, it was the way it unfolded. Roglic had ridden a near-flawless race, managing his efforts with precision and relying on his team’s dominance to control the peloton. But one bad day, one brutal time trial, was all it took to shatter his dreams. The image of Roglic crouched on the floor, broken from his effort, is one that symbolises the brutality of professional sport.

It’s essential to acknowledge just how talented Roglic is. His transformation from ski jumper to world-class cyclist is a testament to both his natural athletic abilities, and his work ethic. Few riders in history have won grand tours with the consistency Roglic has shown. His four Vuelta titles, including his 2024 victory with Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe, place him among the legends of the sport. Add to that his Giro triumph in 2023, where he overcame his own demons and a late mechanical scare to snatch victory on Monte Lussari in a final day time trial, and it’s clear that Roglic has nothing left to prove.

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But there lies the paradox. Roglič’s achievements and accolades are of the elite, yet his career will always be compared to those of his generational rivals: Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Both riders have multiple Tour de France titles to their names, and their successes have, in many ways, overshadowed Roglic’s brilliance. This is not due to a lack of ability but rather to circumstances. In another era, Roglic might have been the dominant force in cycling. Instead, he has been unlucky to compete against two of the best riders the sport has ever seen.

Why the Giro and the Tour

Primoz Roglic’s decision to target the Giro-Tour double in 2025 raises interesting questions. While Roglic has not ruled out winning the Tour, his focus on the Giro could suggest he sees a more realistic path to success in Italy, especially if Tadej Pogacar opts not to race there. Roglic would of course dream of emulating Pogacar in winning both in the same season, but in reality his choice to begin the season at the Giro seems deliberate.

Primoz Roglic suffered more bad luck at the 2024 Tour de France

“I always like to win. I look to next season to try to still improve here and there. I have to do that in some aspects and also try to evolve as a team. I still have challenges that appeal to me. And one of them can be to win the Tour de France. I could say yes, I would like to win it, but also my palmarès will be fine if I don’t get it.”

With four Vuelta titles and a Giro victory already to his name, Roglic’s palmarès is among the finest of his generation. The Giro d’Italia, often less predictable and slightly less competitive than the Tour, presents a strong opportunity for Roglic to claim another Grand Tour crown, and his second pink jersey. However, his inclusion in the Tour line-up shows he is not shying away from the ultimate challenge, and still wants to compete with the very best as he showed he is still capable of this year, when he won the Dauphine and the Vuelta.

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If Roglič’s Tour ambitions have been derailed by anyone, it’s Pogacar and Vingegaard. Pogacar’s rise to the top of cycling has been a defining narrative of the past few years, and he was the first to usurp Roglic, as he did back in 2020. Meanwhile, Vingegaard, Roglic’s former teammate at Jumbo-Visma, has proven himself as the only rider capable of consistently challenging Pogacar at the Tour, and usurped Roglic himself as Visma’s team leader back in 2022.

For Roglic, the prospect of defeating both riders in a single Tour de France seems daunting, if not impossible. In recent years, the race has become a two-horse battle between Pogacar and Vingegaard, with Remco Evenepoel seemingly the most likely of any to close the gap. Roglic, now 35, may no longer has father time on his side.

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Does 2020 define Roglic’s career?

The question remains: will the 2020 Tour de France always define Roglic’s racing career?

It’s a difficult question to answer. On the one hand, that defeat was a defining moment in his career, showcasing both his excellence and his vulnerability. On the other hand, the answer is a definitive no. Roglic has achieved more than 95% of professionals could ever dream of, and it is unfair to define him by that horrible day on stage 20 of the 2020 Tour.

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Ultimately, Roglic’s decision to race the Giro in 2025 reflects a deeper truth: he is content with his career. His statement that “my palmarès will be fine if I finally don’t get [the Tour]” speaks volumes, the Slovenian is at peace with his place in the sport, and he seems to value the journey as much as the destination.

Roglic has won almost everything there is to win in cycling, and his ability to pick himself up and evolve as a rider has kept him at the top of the sport for nearly a decade. While the yellow jersey may remain out of reach, Roglic’s legacy is secure.