12/07/2024

Primoz Roglic's withdraw opens doors for Carlos Rodríguez and others to dream of Tour de France podium

Today we woke up to the horrible news of Primoz Roglic's withdrawal from the Tour de France 2024. This means that Carlos Rodriguez, the undisputed leader of INEOS Grenadiers, is now perhaps the most direct rival to Remco Evenepoel in the fight for the podium at the Tour.

As analyzed by CiclismoAlDia's Juan Larra, the rider from Granada, who was fifth behind the Yates brothers and won a stage in 2023, hopes to improve his result, although he will not have it easy with a very strong rival who has already won a grand tour and who is performing at a high level so far in his debut in the Gallic race: Remco Evenepoel.

Carlos is currently fifth in the race, twenty seconds behind Joao Almeida, who is Tadej Pogacar's closest man in the mountains who could lose time on some stages because of this role.. Thus, his main rival in the fight for the podium would be a Remco who is second at the moment and who is 3 minutes and 34 seconds ahead of the Spaniard. Much of this time was gained on stage 11 as Tadej Pogacar exploded the race on Puy Mary.

Medical Report and withdrawals Tour de France 2024 Update stage 13 - Primoz Roglic crashes out of the race

Obviously, if the Soudal Quick-Step rider continues at the same level, it will be impossible for the rider from Almuñecar to get into the podium. A fourth place would already be better than last year's result, but not what the 23-year old aims for.

Remco inconsistency

Thus, Carlos Rodriguez's podium chances will depend on Remco's consistency in the high mountains. If he continues as he has done so far, if he maintains the same level as in the Vuelta 2022, which he ended up winning, the Belgian should be able to succeed. However, if it happens like in the Vuelta 2023 that he has a bad day and ends up losing time, the Spaniard will be favorite for the podium although it will not be easy against UAE riders that, although in theory they work for Pogacar.

After winning the queen stage of Itzulia Basque Country, the overall classification at the Tour de Romandie and then the final stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné which had a summit finish in the Plateau des Glières, it is safe to assume that Rodríguez performs at his best when the stages are the hardest. This could prove to be a massive weapon now in the Pyrenees and Alps stages that are to come.