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The transfer market holds its breath - Blockbuster signing or retirement for Primoz Roglic?

Cycling
Primoz Roglic at La Vuelta
Primoz Roglic’s future has become one of the biggest question marks in the cycling transfer market for 2027. The Slovenian’s contract with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe ended after Il Lombardia, and he has yet to find a new team for the next stage of his professional career. At 37, the four-time winner of the Vuelta a España faces a decision that could define the final chapter of an extraordinary career: pursue one last project in the peloton or bring his career to a close.
The uncertainty is not simply a question of form. Roglic showed in 2026 that he still has what it takes to compete with the best, but talks with several teams have yet to produce an agreement. Some of the most promising options have also lost momentum in recent weeks. A return to Team Visma | Lease a Bike looks near impossible, and the Slovenian is also reported to have rejected an offer from Lotto-Intermarché.
The market is therefore leaving him with fewer options. Roglič remains one of the biggest names available for next season, but every team move and every contract signed affects his chances of finding a team that matches his ambitions.

Primoz Roglic can still compete

The strongest case for Roglič to continue racing lies in what he achieved in 2026. Although he may no longer be at the peak of his career, the Slovenian has maintained a level that allows him to compete at the highest level. His second place at the Vuelta a España is the clearest evidence.
Primoz Roglic at the 2026 European Championships
Primoz Roglic at the 2026 European Championships
The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider finished behind Enric Mas in the general classification of the Spanish Grand Tour, a particularly significant result given the circumstances surrounding his build-up. Roglič had been hit by a car during his preparation and started the Vuelta with physical problems that affected his form. Despite that, he stayed among the leading riders and finished runner-up.
He also delivered a standout performance in the European Time Trial Championships, winning the title on home soil. It was one of his two victories during the season, alongside the Slovenian's national time trial title.
His race programme also brought strong results in other stage races. He finished fifth at Tirreno-Adriatico, third at Milano-Torino and eighth at the Tour de Suisse. It was not a season dominated by wins, but it showed that he can still deliver major results under the right conditions.
These results explain why his situation has attracted interest in the transfer market. Roglič no longer needs to prove he can win a Grand Tour to justify a contract, but he remains a rider who can bring experience, performance, UCI points and a formidable competitive edge. The challenge is finding a team willing to build a suitable race programme and role for this stage of his career.

Visma and Lotto: two doors that have closed

One of the most talked-about destinations was a possible return to Visma-Lease a Bike, the team with which Roglič achieved many of his greatest successes. The Slovenian spent several years with the Dutch team before joining Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 2024, and the prospect of reuniting with former teammates gained traction during the transfer market.
However, the latest reports suggest the talks did not progress. According to Cyclingnews, Roglič held discussions with Visma, but both sides eventually moved away from the possibility. The Dutch team is reportedly considering other options to complete its roster, with riders better suited to the Classics or one-day races.
The situation at Lotto-Intermarché has also changed. The Belgian team is reported to have made the Slovenian an offer, but Roglič turned it down, according to reports from Het Laatste Nieuws. The team was looking to strengthen its roster after the departures of Arnaud De Lie and Lennert Van Eetvelt, two key riders in its sporting project.
Signing a four-time Vuelta a España winner would have been a major coup for Lotto, but the deal did not come off. As a result, two of the destinations that had dominated speculation have become less likely, just as teams’ 2027 rosters are taking shape.

The options still on the market

This situation does not mean Roglic has run out of potential destinations. In recent months, he has also been linked with Pinarello-Q36.5, Tudor Pro Cycling and Unibet Rose Rockets, as well as other teams mentioned in transfer-market reports.
In the case of Unibet Rose Rockets, founder Bas Tietema confirmed that the team had been in contact with the Slovenian before the Vuelta a España. The Dutch team manager acknowledged the sporting appeal of signing a rider of Roglič’s calibre, but made clear that any move would depend on Roglič’s desire to continue racing and whether his signing was a realistic option for the team.
That conversation does not amount to a completed negotiation, nor does it mean Unibet is currently the most likely destination. The team is still working on its 2027 roster and looking to strengthen its ambitions, including its bid to secure an invitation to the Tour de France.
Pinarello-Q36.5 and Tudor have also been linked with the Slovenian’s future, although no deal has been confirmed with either team. As the weeks pass, teams have less time to reorganise their plans and make room for a rider of his calibre.
So far, none of these possibilities has led to an announcement. The distinction between being linked with a team, holding talks and reaching an agreement is especially important in a transfer market where rumours about Roglič’s future have circulated for months.
Tudor Pro Cycling Team at the 2026 Tour of the Alps
Tudor were, for a long time, the team connected the most heavily to Roglic

Retirement remains an option

The other big question is whether Roglič really wants to continue. In recent weeks, the rider himself has left the door open to retirement, while also suggesting he may still be motivated to race for another season.
Speaking to AS, the Slovenian explained that the issue was not the offers he had received, but his own decision: “The problem isn’t the offers; it’s me. I have to decide whether to sign a new contract or call it a day. I still don’t know.”
That quote helps explain where he stands. Roglič is not in a position where he must leave cycling because other teams have lost interest. His palmarès and results in 2026 still give him a chance to find a new project. The question is whether he believes it makes sense to extend his career, and on what terms he would be willing to do so.
The rider had also suggested that Il Lombardia could be his final professional race. After the event, however, several reports indicated that he was still seriously considering continuing. AS reported that those around him sensed he was leaning towards racing on, although no final decision had been made.
The distinction matters: considering one more season does not mean Roglič has chosen a team or that his continuation is guaranteed. At this stage, both questions remain unresolved.

A final project worthy of his career

If he decides to continue, Roglič will need to find a team that allows him to race for his own objectives. His career shows he does not need to join a team in a supporting role or simply ride for other leaders. He has won the Giro d’Italia, four editions of the Vuelta a España and been one of the leading figures in Grand Tours for much of the past decade.
He has also won Olympic time trial gold and shown he can still perform in one-week races and time trials. His 2026 European title reinforces that view and offers a clue to the goals he could still pursue.
The race calendar will be another key factor. Reports have previously mentioned his interest in returning to the Tour de France and trying to win the Tour de Suisse, one of the major races missing from his palmarès. Those possible goals, however, should not be mistaken for a confirmed 2027 programme. Before discussing races, Roglič needs to decide where he will compete and whether he wants to take on another season.
His choice of team will also shape his chances of contesting a Grand Tour as a protected leader. At a team with several established leaders, he could have a different role than in a project built around his ambitions. At this stage of his career, a calendar tailored to his strengths may matter as much as the quality of the roster.
Roglič still has the sporting credentials to continue, but the transfer market will not wait forever. His departure from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is already settled, Visma and Lotto have faded as alternatives, and the other possibilities have yet to take shape. The Slovenian still controls the most important decision, but each passing week leaves less time to find the right opportunity.
After winning four Vuelta a España titles, a Giro d’Italia and numerous races on the sport’s biggest stages, his next move could be one of the most consequential of his career. Not because he needs another victory to confirm his greatness, but because he must decide how he wants to approach the final chapter of his professional career.
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