Roglic emerges from concealment following a hard tumble
Primoz Roglic makes his return to competition after crashing at the Dauphine, with the Tour de France in mind.
Under the bright Spanish sun, Roglic had a rigorous training routine in the Sierra Nevada's high camps. The Slovenian cyclist for Germany's Bora-hansgrohe was determined to be in top shape. Meanwhile, he couldn't help but be impressed by compatriot Tadej Pogacar who dominated the Giro d'Italia and became the favorite for the Tour de France.
The television broadcast showcased Roglic taking on the challenge. It had been almost two months since his crash at the Basque Country Tour, and he was making his comeback. The Criterium du Dauphine started on Sunday. This performance could give insight into whether the double dream of Roglic, winning the Tour for himself and Bora-hansgrohe, was a realistic one.
"It looks good," said his sports director Rolf Aldag during the Giro. "He lost time, but he's producing excellent training results now. I think he's doing well." Roglic's thoughts on the matter are unknown—he's been keeping a low profile since his crash on April 4th. The Basque Country crash disrupted the season planning of the top tour riders. In contrast, Remco Evenepoel and tour title defender Jonas Vingegaard suffered bone fractures, while Roglic's battered body just needed a week to recover.
Pogacar is the lone top contender remaining
Originally, Pogacar, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard were set to square off at the Dauphine to test their mettle—only Pogacar chose a different route, with the Giro/Tour double. Now, Vingegaard, who was most impacted, won't return until the Grand Loop. So, the interesting comparison between Roglic and Evenepoel remains.
Evenepoel seemed particularly laid-back during his high-altitude training camp. He jokingly said he was "higher than Snoop Dogg" on his way there. However, Roglic's primary goal has always been the same: "It's all about being in top form for the Tour." And the Dauphine is a vital checkpoint on that journey.
"Roglic mustn't and shouldn't crash"
The challenging eight-stage race—with five mountain finishes and a time trial—is traditionally the Tour's dry run. In the past 12 years, the Dauphine winner has won the Tour de France six times: Bradley Wiggins (2012), three times Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016), Geraint Thomas (2018), and last year's victor Jonas Vingegaard.
Roglic won the Dauphine in 2022, beating out Vingegaard, but during the Tour, he crashed and eventually gave up. Roglic's team manager Ralph Denk emphasized, "Primoz mustn't and shouldn't crash." This applies to the Tour and is already a priority for the Dauphine. The Basque Country is a stunning location.
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Tadej Pogacar's dominance at the Giro d'Italia has not gone unnoticed by Primoz Roglic, who is preparing for the Tour de France. Despite his own hardships after a crash at the Dauphine, Roglic has been training rigorously in the Sierra Nevada's high camps to regain top form for the Tour de France.
Despite the absence of his main opponents, such as Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard, who will return later in the season, Tadej Pogacar remains the lone top contender at the moment. The Tour de France will provide a stern test for both Roglic and Pogacar, and their performances at the Dauphine could offer valuable insights into their respective preparations.
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