Who will Primoz Roglic sign with for 2027? - Surprising Worlds performance and home European Championships can change everything
Cycling
As the final embers of summer sun disappear with September, Primoz Roglic is blooming into life at a time we didn't expect. After declining a World Championships snooze, he's got a Slovenian dream instead. A vital transfer looms, so don't wake 'Rogla' up when September ends, eh?
Indeed, Primoz Roglic has enjoyed a successful past six weeks after his Vuelta a Espana was almost derailed by a training crash. Putting himself in the transfer market shop window with a strong Vuelta a Espana and World Championships, the European Championships could once again prove that there's plenty of value in his services yet.
At 36-years-old, one might be forgiven for believing that the Slovenian's career would be gracefully winding down. Although Red Bull has confirmed that he will leave the team this winter, this weekend's elite men's race in his home country could set the tone for a final flourish.
With transfer options seeming to dwindle before La Vuelta at the end of August, and after limited showings in spring and summer, the five-time Grand Tour winner has since reminded us all what he's made of. A further step this weekend could change everything.
Primoz Roglic
Strong Vuelta and surprise World Championships
The results speak for themselves, Roglic is enjoying a definitive purple patch in recent weeks. While it seemed like his career could be wining down in 2025 and early 2026, his situation and future seems much brighter.
In 2024 after joining Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe, he won six races. He won a stage at the Itzulia Basque Country and two at the Dauphine - which he also took the overall win. But his real success came at the Vuelta, winning it for a fourth time alongside three stage victories.
Victories came a little fewer last season. He did take two wins and the general classification at the Volta a Catalunya, but had to leave the Giro d'Italia and worked in service of Florian Lipowitz with a top ten at the Tour de France.
His only 2026 victory so far has come at the Slovenian National Championships as wins in WorldTour stage races have gone from victories in the years before to top tens and podium places.
Now, he had made no secret that his season was building towards the Vuelta. But with an expiring contract this winter, he suffered a crash involving a car in training that threw his participation in the Grand Tour in doubt in early August.
Roglic on the Vuelta a Espana final podium
Roglic's recent performances
What's happened since is nothing short of resounding. Second place at the Vuelta, just short of Enric Mas' undoubtedly high level in Spain. As the Slovenian improved throughout the race, he carried form into the World Championships that perhaps he wouldn't have without the pre-Vuelta setback.
Hanging tough with explosive climbers and versatile riders, Roglic showed he was on top form in a one-day race, something he's not renowned for regularly throughout his career.
A 21st place finish certainly doesn't do justice his resilient ride that saw him bridge across to a rampaging Mathieu van der Poel and give his all in the final laps amid Isaac del Toro, Tom Pidcock, Ben Healy and Brandon McNulty's high-octane pursuit of the rainbow jersey.
| Race | Result and performance |
| Vuelta a Espana GC | 2nd, +2:15 from Enric Mas |
| Vuelta a Espana best finishes | 3rd, 4th (ITT), 7th, 7th, 8th |
| World Championships Road Race | 21st, 88km breakaway |
The Slovenian dream
And so the script delivers the perfect pay-off this weekend. Fronting the Slovenian line-up for the European Championships elite men's road race, the course is much more suited to the 36-year-old. Not only is it suited, but the championships offer something even bigger - the chance for victory on home roads.
Carrying form into the Ljubljana start line, the race finishes less than 100 kilometres from his hometown. As the cycling world descends on the sunny side of the Alps, expect a heroes welcome for Rogla. Already a winner on home soil in June, what better place for Roglic to take a defining victory?
The Mozjanca climb, which will be taken on six times by the contenders, is just over two kilometres long and averaging at 10.1 percent gradient, with steeper pitches as high as 16 percent. The kind of climb he built a stellar career upon.
With the final ascent cresting just over 14 kilometres before the finish, rolling hills and a descent to the finish line create the perfect platform for a winning attack. At just less than 200 kilometres, the distance also suits him compared to a longer, more attritional World Championships.
Of course, Remco Evenepoel, Giulio Ciccone and others are among the favourites, but none should look past Roglic. If he manages to get ahead of the pack, like in the World Championships, who would write off a raucous Slovenian crowd roaring their hero on in a one-up time trial over the top towards the finish line?
Primoz Roglic at the Vuelta
Roglic transfer future
But what is then, and now, without the future? Roglic's 2027 and beyond is by no means set in stone. He turns 37 at the end of October, but has signalled his intent to continue his career after he leaves Red Bull - BORA Hansgorhe.
He had been heavily linked with a surprise move to Lotto-Intermarche in recent months, while Pinarello Q36.5 and Bahrain-Victorious had also been pinned as potential suitors.
It's reported that Tudor Pro Cycling have now emerged as the frontrunners for his signature. Although seeming as if his options were slightly limited, his Vuelta and World Championships form make him a highly sought-after option for a lot of teams. As well as his Vuelta podium, his near 2000 UCI points haul this season makes him a valuable rider for teams with ambitions in the rankings.
A dream European Championships performance not only opens more doors, but also means he brings more to the contract table himself.
For Primoz Roglic, he hopes September's end won't wake him up from his Slovenian dream. But perhaps a home crowd willing him on to a European title and a fresh transfer would be worth the alarm call.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- He wanted to be sole leader in the worlds. He doesn't understand tactics at ll.abstractengineer03-10-2026
- It would be a lovely moment for Slovenian cycling if Pogi got to present a medal to Rogla!Hills3303-10-2026
- Did you see the result of the poll at the end of this article? It says 77% of respondents prefer to witness Tadej's brilliance in a race. Maybe one in four of cycling fans prefer the excitement generated by a bit of mediocrity from the riders? The could've and would've questions give talking points some validity, which become moot and academic if the top rider turned the race into a one-man show.FredMan03-10-2026
- i'll be glad to see the end of him.....
Davide03-10-2026 - Sure Pogi loves you. Hrvat je tat as the Slovenians saymobk03-10-2026
- Maga redneck... shush... capish?PogiSloFans02-10-2026
- My god are you a fool, are you an american redneck? Pogi can't ever get a mental slap. He's the G.O.A.T., he's constantly beating Remco in every race (except the TT)... and he's not even racing in Slovenia. Capish?PogiSloFans02-10-2026
- I think it's unlikely, even with a lot of Slovenian racing. Pogačar wants to win the Tour and has unfinished Vuelta business
Rafionain-Glas02-10-2026 - You're just a stalker fanboy !frieders302-10-2026
- Why was this race so much harder than the elite one?Rafionain-Glas02-10-2026
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