“That broke me in the end, I froze...” – Primoz Roglic admits disappointment after Itzulia collapse but refuses to wave the white flag just yet
Cycling
Primoz Roglic has openly admitted he was “broken” by the demands of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country, after a late collapse saw him fall from general classification contention to 16th overall.
The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader had been firmly in the mix through the opening half of the race, sitting among the top contenders and within striking distance of the podium.
But a difficult final two stages, culminating in a chaotic and rain-hit finale, saw his challenge unravel completely.
Taking to Instagram after the race, Roglic did not hide from the reality of how his week ended. “Tough week in the Itzulia Basque Country that broke me in the end, I froze…” he wrote.
“Disappointed, but no white flag yet”
The blunt assessment reflects a race that shifted sharply against him. After losing ground on the decisive stage 5 around Eibar, Roglic entered the final day still within touching distance of the podium. But under pressure in difficult conditions, he was unable to limit his losses, slipping dramatically down the standings.
The result was a stark contrast to his position earlier in the week, turning what had been a controlled general classification ride into a significant setback.
Despite that, Roglic made clear that the disappointment does not change his mindset moving forward. “Disappointed, but no white flag yet.”
Primoz Roglic at Itzulia Basque Country 2026
“We keep fighting”
While the result will raise questions about his condition and trajectory, Roglic’s message was one of resilience rather than frustration. “We keep fighting.”
He also took a moment to acknowledge the support around him, even as results have become harder to deliver. “Also, to my fans, I thank you and love you all. I know it’s not easy.”
It is a short message, but one that carries weight. Roglic does not attempt to explain away the result or deflect responsibility. Instead, he accepts the outcome and looks ahead.
Roglic’s Itzulia ultimately became a race of two halves, from early contention to late collapse. His own words confirm that the final stages did not just cost him time, but pushed him to his limit. The response now will define what comes next.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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leedorney14-04-20263
Roglic has fans 😁
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin is wuite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
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