Primoz Roglic "can be a role model for everyone who doesn't have everything going the way they imagine in life" according to former Slovenian national champion

Whilst Primoz Roglic has undoubtedly had an incredibly successful career in the peloton, it's also been a career with numerous setbacks and pieces of bad luck. As such, the fact that he has been so successful in spite of these setbacks, means the Slovenian can be a role model to all for his determination and perseverance according to compatriot Martin Hvastija.

"This is his greatest quality. Of course, we already know everything about this. He can really be a role model for everyone who doesn't have everything going the way they imagine in life, and that after every such fall you have to 'pick yourself up' and start over. But this is his character trait," explains the former Slovenian national champion to Siol's Spotkast. "He doesn't give up, but goes through it again. He picks himself up and moves on."

An example of Roglic's unrelenting desire came as recently as 2024. After seeing his Tour de France dreams once again end in a crash, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader refocused, recalibrated and came back firing to win a record equalling 4th Red Jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. Hvastija sees more Grand Tour success in Roglic's imminent future too at the 2025 Giro d'Italia. "Of these big four for the general classification, only Roglic will be there," the 55-year-old explains, noting the absence of Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel in Italy, although he warns "this does not mean that he has already won the Giro."

"We do not know what awaits the cyclists in three weeks and I actually think that this is a very wise decision for the team and him to go to the Giro." continues Hvastija. "He says that they agreed by mutual consent - that is, to fully ride the first major three-week race. With this, of course, you can already achieve some partial goals and, above all, you can then go into the rest of the season with greater confidence. So I think this is a good decision."

The Tour de France remains the elusive goal for Roglic though. Aged 35 now, can he still realistically challenge Vingegaard and Pogacar, who between them have won the last five Maillot Jaunes? "Absolutely yes," answers Hvastija defiantly. "I have always considered him as one of the main contenders for overall victories in three-week races. He is a distinctly stage cyclist, even more so than Tadej Pogacar."

Despite being 35, Hvastija also believes Roglic's body won't be as weakened by age as some of the other riders in his bracket within the peloton. "I think that considering that he started late, he is not as jaded as those who have been racing since the age of thirteen," he concludes. "He knows just enough to be experienced, and I think that if he finally gets his season together - we are talking about a season that is right, to get rid of this curse of falls, accidents and the like - he can compete. If he manages to get himself together as he should, I think he is competitive."