“We believe he can still even get better” - Primoz Roglic (35) 'hasn't reached his ceiling' according to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe

For most professional sportsmen, hitting their mid-30s is a sign that things are set to start winding down. For 35-year-old Primoz Roglic however, the best may still be yet to come, at least that is according to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's head of performance Dan Lorang.

“Primoz can still be there with Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. If we get his build-up and preparation right, why can’t he? We see Primoz's numbers are as good as ever, improving even,” Lorang explains in conversation with Velo. “Primoz's age doesn’t really mean anything. He’s eight, ten years older than Pogacar and those guys, but as a cyclist, he’s the same. He’s probably been on a bike the same amount of time as them, and that plays a big role. We’re not seeing ‘age’ impact Primoz like other athletes.”

Roglic did of course, start his sporting career as a ski-jumper, before transitioning to cycling with a move to Adria Mobil in 2013. Given the fact that the Slovenian has 'only' been a cyclist for around a decade, Lorang feels there is even still room for improvement for the four time Vuelta a Espana and one time Giro d'Italia winner. “It’s about how much space there still is for development,” Lorang explains. “Because Primoz is so ‘young’ in cycling he’s not reached his ceiling. There’s still room for him to develop, just like there is for Evenepoel, Pogacar. We believe he can still even get better. We see that in his numbers, and that keeps us confident about the future.”

So could the Tour de France Maillot Jaune still be a realistic goal for the Slovenian? Lorang believes so, even despite more disappointment in the summer of 2024. “The Tour was the biggest disaster for our whole team, not just for Primoz. Everybody put in 120 percent but the results were zero," he reflects. “The crash really affected Primoz mentally and physically. That’s why it was so impressive how he came back in the Vuelta. Everyone came home from Spain exhausted but motivated. It was a crucial result for us. It showed what’s possible for us and Red Bull next year and beyond.”

“If we can get everything right for Primoz, if he stays safe and healthy early on, we see no reason why he can’t compete with those guys for the podium, or even to win, at the Tour,” Lorang concludes.