Much has been made of the internal power struggle with Jumbo-Visma at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana with some suggesting time could be up for Primoz Roglic at the team. The Slovenian himself however has laughed off any such talk.
"No, not really," the winner of the Giro d'Italia earlier this year told GCN on Friday when pressed about whether or not he pays any attention to the rumors surrounding his future. “These are good things for me. It means someone wants me and that means I’m good."
Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard have been criticised by many for their actions over the past week of racing, as the pair repeatedly became the only riders to put their Red Jersey wearing teammate Sepp Kuss into difficulty. On stage 18 however the trio joined forces to try and ensure it would be Kuss who reigned supreme.
“Everyone has their own opinions and their own possibilities to do their own things but for sure I support riding for Sepp. I just hope that we can finish it off," Roglic says. “Everyone should comment on doing their own things but I’m happy. I try to keep the focus to finish it off. He’s a super nice person. He’s one of my close friends. We give everything to help him finish it off."
🚩 ¡Salida lanzada! 👊 200 kilómetros de batalla por la sierra de Guadarrama.
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 16, 2023
🚩 The offical start is given! The penultimate stage of La Vuelta begins now! 🔥 #LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/G80dk8uUrP