Primoz Roglic starts season with explosive racing in France: "This is definitely what I need"

The three-time Vuelta a España winner is starting another crucial season in his career and with some changes to his traditional schedule as for the first time since Jumbo-Visma he started off with a set of one-day races, excluding 2020's delayed start at the Slovenian national championships.

"Yesterday and today [Faun-Ardèche and Drôme Classics] were very difficult. This is definitely what I need. It has been a good decision to have these two race days in the lead up to Paris-Nice," Roglic told Wielerflits after the finish of this Sunday's Drôme Classic, where he finished in the 28th spot but had reasons to celebrate at the finish at teammate Jonas Vingegaard arrived at Étoile-sur-Rhône in first place.

"The guys I train a lot with are doing well here, so I'm happy too. It is a pleasure to see these good performances." Roglic has helped the team obtain strong results this week without going for them himself directly. In Faun Ardèche he launched the first decisive attack which then opened things up for Sepp Kuss to go finish on the podium, and in Drôme he stayed in the peloton retaining the focus of other leaders whilst Jonas Vingegaard escaped for the win. Knowing that soon the Slovenian will be leading the team, he can also be happy to see his core of domestiques and co-leaders are in good form.

Primoz Roglic will be at Paris-Nice next week where he will be one the main favourites, and will be riding alongside the likes of Wout van Aert, Steven Kruijswijk and Rohan Dennis.