Tadej Pogacar laments Primoz Roglic's Tour de France withdraw: "I'm really disappointed for him, really sad for him"
CyclingFriday, 12 July 2024 at 15:06
Tadej Pogacar snatched the Tour de France victory from Primoz Roglic back in 2020 and that set up the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider for a mission that continues until today: Win the Tour de France. Roglic has now crashed out of the race for a third participation in a row and his compatriot has shared a lot of sorrow for how the race turned out.
"Like I said already yesterday I'm really disappointed for him, really sad for him. I didn't speak to him yet but I read just before the start when we're coming here that he didn't start today," Pogacar told ITV Cycling at the start of the day. "It's a real shame for the race because he was really going good and it would be better for the final victory".
In his non-fluent English, Pogacar showed true emotion for his compatriot, although it must be said that the yellow jersey was able to comfortably drop his rival on the difficult stages. At the start of the sixth stage Roglic would be in sixth position after losing two and a half minutes last afternoon, having crashed 10 kilometers away from the finish in a chaotic incident. It was one that Pogacar believes couldn't be avoided and was a matter of bad luck.
"There's always in the Tour de France crashes that you cannot expect, you can be at the wrong moment at the wrong time and if you have a strong team around you it helps but not always," Pogacar adds. Roglic at the time of the crash was only about 30 positions back on the head of the peloton, but this was enough to get caught up in the mass crash. "If you have a strong team you ride in the front, but yeah this can happen specially in the Tour de France even more than any other race".
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- it is too simple to base improvement on points alone. Quick-Step lost a lot of points but might gain more wins and are shifting their focus. Juan Ayuso might be addition by subtraction. and Ineos picked up a lot of points. Onley gets a boatload for being 4th in the Tour. but who’s racing for 4th place?!?!?mij11-01-2026
- All very sad. But you seem to be backing the journalists in generally demonising Tadej and canonising Jonas. This article is interesting though, and suggests Jonas is making very good financial decisions, acquiring luxury homes that he and his family are enjoying living in, and staying near family (also now in luxury homes) who can help with the kids. Sounds like a great lifestyle, and not a basis for critising Pog's decisions.Hills3311-01-2026
- Anyone who thinks the Giro is a training camp for the Tour, for Vingegaard, is not right in the head. First of all, he is not Pogacar and secondly, UAE will send almost A team to make Jonas life miserable and make the race difficult. If the danish fisherman competes in Giro, his chances drop from 20 to 2 percent. I also read some foolish statements that the 2026 Tour is against Pogi and I'm dying of laughter. 2026 is the most ideal Tour that Pogi will ever ride. Not a single stage is difficult except 20st. Everything else is made for UAE to control. Every mountain stage has 30-40km of easy terrain before the last climb.NikkoNicco11-01-2026
- it doesn’t matter what Jonas is doing with the houses, the article is trash. and the fact that he is buying houses in Denmark with no criticism makes everyone’s point all the stronger. it is Tadej’s life. he isn’t breaking the law. he can live where he wishes how he wishes. and his “side” isn’t quoted, which especially irks me. it makes it sound as if he is living in Monaco just to cheat taxes. maybe he is there because it is an ideal training base year round. or any other number or reasons. and, it happens to be a good financial decision.mij11-01-2026
- Unbelievably I remember people saying 2024 Pogi was avoiding Jonas by riding the Giro. Seriously why wouldn’t Jonas ride the Giro? Only GT he hasn’t won. It’s a pretty obvious and logical move.mobk11-01-2026
- it must suck to have to admit that the time to win is only going to be a result of someone else’s retirement, not improved skill or speed.mij11-01-2026
- National champs are supposed to be individual events, rider v rider not raced as teams.wipperman9511-01-2026
- National champs are supposed to be individual events, rider v rider not raced as teams.wipperman9511-01-2026
- I assume Plapp will be about as popular as a fart in a gas mask this season on the team bus. What an absolute clown shoe. Attacking his own team-mate with a lap and a half to go, bringing back his rivals with you, then fluffing it yourself to let the other guy win. You’d assume that if they had race radios, the DS would be telling Plapp to stop p*sing on Durbo’s chips, but at the same time you’d also expect a World Tour rider to understand this kind of basic racecraft. Felt like watching Dwars with Nielsen Powless and Visma. Hats off to the winner though, and him sledging his former team for giving him the boot, haha. Unreal scenes.antipodeanpedalfan11-01-2026
- You can write the same article replacing JV with a whole bunch of names. Every race needs competitors and wants the best they can get. Jonas has a Vuelta, 2 Tours and no Giro, you said it yourself so - Go figure. Has he ruled out the Tour? Am convinced if Tadej decides to do the Giro, Jonas won’t cancel, it’s nothing to do with dodging, it’s about deciding for himself and not living for others. Jonas has offered plenty of competition to Tadej, it’s not his only purpose or obligation. Had there not been a Tadej, he’d be considered one of the too 3 GT riders ever, he’s just a bit unlucky not to clearly be ahead of Froome and no other recent rider comes close, though Rogliç might have given him a good run if not in the same team.Mistermaumau11-01-2026
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"It's a shame for the race, he was going really good, it would have been a great battle for the victory" Tadej Pogačar reacted to the news of Primož Roglič's abandon 💛🇸🇮 #TDF2024
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