Roglic comes close to marring his Tour de France preparations.
Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic clinched the Criterium du Dauphine victory but had a narrow escape with just an eight-second lead on the final stage. Despite experiencing some weakness, Roglic - a member of the German team Bora-hansgrohe - remains optimistic for the Tour de France.
Exhausted after the race, Roglic commented, "It was close, but in the end, it was enough." The last stage, which stretched 160.6 kilometers over the Glieres Plateau, saw Roglic's team lose control and witness the first signs of his fatigue. However, Matteo Jorgenson's persistent attack remained unanswered, resulting in a close win for Roglic.
Reflecting on the experience, the two-time mountain stage winner recognized its unusual nature, calling it "a little crazy." With the Dauphine win now under his belt, Roglic intends to savor the moment. While not a guarantee of Tour de France success, the Dauphine victory is nonetheless encouraging.
Remco Evenepoel keeps Rogerlic in check
Time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel, competing in his first Tour de France, managed to maintain Roglic's pace during the mountains. Despite securing a stage win against the clock, Evenepoel's form was not at its peak. A crash during the fifth stage complicates his preparations and he finished in 7th place (+2:25) in the overall standings.
Jonas Vingegaard lost two key teammates for the upcoming Tour, with illness forcing both Dylan van Baarle and Steven Kruijswijk out of the race. Their absence will impact Vingegaard's ability to defend his Tour championship, but the Dane remains assured after completing a high-altitude training camp.
Rival Tadej Pogacar, having won the Giro d'Italia without opposition, is hard at work preparing for the French event. Hoping to secure his third overall victory and the elusive Giro-Tour double, Pogacar assessed Vingegaard as follows: "If he feels good again on the bike, I think he can start well." But Pogacar remains the favorite due to Roglic's known fitness in the lead-up to the Dauphine.
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After his successful Criterium du Dauphine victory, Primoz Roglic expressed his relief, stating, "Despite the challenges, I managed to maintain my lead in the Tour de France preparations." During the final stage, Roglic faced intense competition from Matteo Jorgenson, leading to a thrilling finish in the Tour de France-like scenario.
