Cursed on the Tour de France, Primoz Roglic attacks the Giro for a change of scenery and enter a new era

Unfinished is a bit like the story of his journey. He may have one of the best records of recent years, Primoz Roglic remains, despite himself, one of the questions of the little queen. A “what if”, as it would be called on the other side of the Atlantic. This label is sometimes too unfairly affixed to the former ski jumper, often placed in the box of the “cursed of the Tour de France”. Because it is ultimately what retains the general public when discussing his case.

However, the business card of “Rogla” looks great and is enough to make many competitors pale. Raised in the “big 5” alongside Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu Van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel, his great opponent on this Tour of Italy, Primoz Roglic is still scary. Favorite at the start this Saturday, the champion has nothing to lose in Italy. Above all, everything to gain.

A Giro to give it back its nobility

Since his advent, Primoz Roglic has had an almost poisoned relationship with the Grand Tours. It’s no secret. The Slovenian has won three of the four he has completed. But the other side of the coin is just as salty since he has only finished these races once out of his last four participations. It was on the Tour of Spain, in 2021.

Too often, his failures on the Grande Boucle have overshadowed the immensity of his achievements on other grounds and in particular on the Vuelta, which he managed to win three times in 2019, 2020 and therefore in 2021. Before giving up to an incredible quadruple last year due to a fall on the 16th stage. This colossal hat-trick is almost seen as a consolation prize. Wrongly.

By aligning himself with Giro for the first time since 2019, when he won the third folding seat on the box, the champion is sending a new message to bicycle followers, but not only. The Tour de France had almost become a chimera for the champion. But his fights made him grow. Appeased him, above all. “Over the years I grew older and relaxed“, explained the runner on Slovenian television RTV SLO earlier this week. This Thursday, at a press conference, the champion reaffirmed this peace of mind.Like fine wine, the older I get, the better off I am. I’m wiser, more experienced, I feel strong“

The return of the first dreams on the road

Meticulous in his preparation where he met Remco Evenepoel during an internship in the Canary Islands, the former ski jumper regular hopes to confirm his good dispositions at the start of the season when he dominated his rival in Catalonia. However, he refuses to make a fix of it as he explained to Cycling News. “I always said that Remco is a great champion and that I had to be at my best to compete with him. But if we focus on each other, someone can benefit… I have to focus on myself, do my bestux.” Cautious and pragmatic the Primoz, as always.

This Tour of Italy is above all a return to first love. “This race has a special place in my heart. This is where I had my first Grand Tour victory. We are close to Slovenia, it’s almost a home race. When I dreamed of becoming a cyclist, the Giro was the race I was aiming for…”

This Giro is more than a new challenge for the Slovenian. Almost an escape. Like putting the church back in the center of the village too. A success in the Course Rose would undoubtedly move it into a new category, that of the giants, which it has been caressing the wheel for several years. The brilliant Primoz Roglic is a man of challenges. This is one of the most beautiful of his already immense career.