Primoz Roglic on Evenepoel and Lipowitz for 2026: "We have to be ready to be the best, and then I don't care who wins"

Primoz Roglic was signed to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe at the start of 2024 and ever since the team has brought up two other great leaders. Florian Lipowitz evolved straight within the team, whilst Remco Evenepoel was now bought from Soudal - Quick-Step. How does the veteran plan to fare in the middle of so many quality leaders?

"It's going to be very easy. If I'm honest, there are a lot of races; it's not always a question of who will do what, but From my point of view, it's more a question of how to win the race or how to be the best," Roglic responded to Marca.

The Slovenian is at the Singapore Criterium this weekend and he has already been able to meet Evenepoel as a new teammate at the recent team camp - the one where Oier Lazkano's absence sparked another step in what was, at the time, still a mystery.

Roglic was asked about the Olympic champion directly, but he deflects the possibility that the two will come in each other's ways. "I always try to think that way. First, we have to be ready to be the best, and then I don't care who wins. Him, him, him, or anyone. I think it's great for the team to have him. He's shown that he's special, and he's won a lot of races, so I hope he can do the same for our team next year".

However, he is aware that the lineup is still not at the level of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, although no team can realistically say they do. "If we're honest, right now UAE is a very strong team; they've won almost 100 races. It's incredible to think about, so yes, they are the dominant team". Red Bull and Visma now make for two super teams that could potentially put UAE under pressure at next year's Tour.

This year Roglic showed his best level, but it was Florian Lipowitz who really put on a show in France, finishing on the podium and taking the white jersey for the German team. "Yes, he can certainly compete. He was on the podium last year, he showed some very good and very solid progress," Roglic said of his younger teammate.

Winning the Tour de France is a question he answer more reluctantly, however repeating the same feat next summer is achievable: "I think he made the podium in many world races, so from that perspective, yes, of course. But to win, it's a little difficult to say whether it's enough or not. It's a bit unrealistic to say it directly, but of course, he's there. As I said, he made the podium, I don't see why he can't do it again. We hope he'll be even better".