TOUR DE FRANCE | 29/06/2024 | 08:20
by Francesca Monzone
Primoz Roglic is calm and jokes, trying to push away the memories of injuries and retirements as much as possible. This year he races with Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe and although his recovery went well, he wants to be cautious and doesn’t feel like making predictionslimiting themselves to saying that they will run one step behind the others.
«It’s summer, I’m happy to enjoy the heat and be here with the whole teamIt’s true that we are far from being the favourites, because there are great champions in this Tour but the team proved to be strong». The Slovenian had started this 2024 well, then due to the fall in the Basque Country, he was forced to retire. However, once back in the race, he immediately won, taking home the general classification of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
The Slovenian now races with Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe and now among his opponents there is also Jonas Vingegaard, who was his teammate until last year.
«I’m adapting to my new team, to this new environment and this is already a lot of work. As for Vingegaard, he has won the last two editions of the Tour, and it will be the first time I will race against him.”
The Slovenian doesn’t seem to have too many worries and knows he has done an excellent job to recover after the crash in Spain. His opponents don’t worry him and he doesn’t even fear Pogacar, who runs as a big favorite this year. «I don’t care too much about my opponents, I’m more committed to being well in the team and doing everything I can to make everything work well.. I think more about this than about my opponents. Almost every day there will be 200-kilometer stages, but I’m calm because I’m here with a great team that supports me and we’ll try to get as far as possible.”
At 34, the Slovenian doesn’t want to imagine this Tour as his last chance to win. He has a contract with a strong team that has invested a lot and before understanding where he can get to, he wants to wait to see what will happen with the first climbs. «I hope Red Bull gives me wings – said Roglic jokingly -. It’s nice to have Red Bull with us, to participate in this great project. I don’t know if this will be my last chance, I’m just happy. You have to take every opportunity in life. I’m fine and I don’t have any pain anymore. Surely we will all do a good performance to show the cycling we love. My job is to race, to try my luck 100% for the general classification, I have a great team around me, I can’t ask for more. Whether I win or not I will be happy, but I don’t want to have regrets, that’s why I changed teams. All I want is to have fun».
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