Primoz Roglic still recovering from knee injury, as preparation for Tour de France draws closer

The Tour de France is less than two months away, and Primoz Roglic is still healing from a knee injury that has hindered him in the finale of the spring period. The Jumbo-Visma rider is a major candidate for the second Grand Tour of the season, and there is uncertainty still on whether he'll be able to have the perfect preparation.

Team DS Merijn Zeeman has told Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that the Slovenian is not yet training for the upcoming goals, but instead just riding lightly to keep fitness: "We are still in the recovery phase. The doctors and our performance coach Mathieu Heijboer monitor Primoz's knee on a daily basis. His training is still on hold at this time. We don't want to put a full load on his knee until next week."

Roglic started to feel issues during Itzulia Basque Country. In the last two days of racing he lost the lead of the race, and eventually dropped down to eighth in the GC in an unusual display of difficulties.

He took time off the bike after the race, and was forced out of the Ardennes classics where he had his focus on. With the Tour de France looming in the distance, Roglic took no risks and has instead opted to be patient and prevent a longer injury, before returning to training.

Zeeman also added that the team would go on a training camp at Sierra Nevada, Spain, before the Critérium du Dauphiné where Roglic is scheduled to be. After the French race, another stint at altitude is planned, but with an uncertain destination.