29/06/2022

"Wout is someone who is 100% committed to the entire team" - Roglic on beating Pogacar, working with Vingegaard and Van Aert's support

Primoz Roglic is heading towards another tilt at the Tour de France, where he will attempt to finally win the Grand Boucle. Jumbo-Visma are perhaps the strongest team at the startline in Denmark, and Roglic will be counting on the team support for the three weeks.

“Wout is someone who is 100% committed to the entire team," he stated in the pre-race conference - held online for Covid-related concerns. "We help each other. We know why we are here and we know what our team's main goal is in this round. Wout has a free role and it is also a big challenge for him to go for green."

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The Slovenian will be having the task to battle his compatriot. Pogacar is yet to put a foot wrong this year, but he will be a very hard target to strike down at the Tour. “We all do our best. We have many individual qualities. Together we will have to do the best we can. Yes, we have faith that we can beat him as a team," Roglic said in anticipation of the fight.

As for Jonas Vingegaard, with whom he'll be sharing leadership duties - as was the case at the Critérium du Dauphiné - he said: “We definitely make each other stronger. Jonas is a very good rider. But that also applies to the other riders in this Tour team who are very strong individually. Besides the bike, I also have a good relationship with Jonas. We are very good friends.”

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Roglic is a proven winner on the mountains and in the time-trials, but perhaps his biggest risk will be staying upright during the three weeks. Specially, during the opening week which will feature several tense days. "There is definitely stress to survive the first week. Everyone is especially looking forward to stage five over the cobblestones."

"For me, this is just one of twenty-one rides. In every ride you have to pay attention and for 21 days you have to be the best version of yourself. It's important that you don't focus too much on that cobblestone stage," he concluded.