Cycling - Tricky Tour situation for Red Bull: "Getting more complicated"
Deliciously, Primoz Roglic spent his rest day at the Tour de France in Orleáns, wearing a casual shirt. The Slovenian looked completely relaxed, even about the loss of his important helper Alexander Wlassow, who had left with a broken kneecap after a heavy fall on the gravel stage on Sunday. "It's a big loss for our team," said the 34-year-old. "But in the end, we can't change it. It is, as it is."
Wlassow had recently departed with his broken kneecap. In a severe crash on the gravel stage on Sunday, he had broken his kneecap and was missing Roglic for the crucial mountain stages. "We ideally want to win the Tour with Primoz. And it's not Primoz who broke his foot, but Alex. The goal remains the same. The way there will be much more complicated," said Sport Director Rolf Aldag.
The cycling team from Raubling, Germany, had to acknowledge after nine stages at the Tour that the overall victory in the three-week Grand Tour would likely be a surprising one. Before the season, Red Bull had signed Roglic. The goal was clear from the start: The experienced pro was supposed to secure the team's first Tour victory in history.
Think: "Glad we're still in it"
However, Roglic is currently the furthest away from the fabulous Four of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and himself. The three-time Vuelta winner, who came close to winning the Tour in 2020, had a deficit of 1:36 minutes in the general classification against his countryman Pogacar, just under a minute against time trial world champion Evenepoel, and 21 seconds against titleholder Vingegaard. "It's the reality. It's as it is," said Roglic, reminding himself of the Rhineland saying "et kütt wie et kütt."
His team boss was more explicit about the team's position: "We're glad we're still in it. But it would be nice if it were a few seconds less," said Ralph Denk before the rest day. "I wouldn't say we have to or should give up. The podium is definitely possible. Maybe even more."
However, the major challenges in the third week with the hard mountain stages are yet to come. The other general classification contenders had already established a good foundation on the tough gravel stage to make the podium among themselves. But in the end, Roglic finished the stage in the same time as the favorites' group.
On Tuesday, Roglic and his team face the tenth stage, which is more than 187 kilometers long from Orleáns to Saint-Amand-Montrond. There, the sprinters are expected to take center stage again.
- Despite the loss of Alexander Wlassow, Red Bull's goal of securing their first Tour de France victory with Primoz Roglic remains unchanged.
- Tadej Pogacar currently leads the Tour de France, with Roglic trailing by a deficit of 1:36 minutes in the general classification.
- France serves as the host country for the International UCI WorldTour event, the Tour de France, where overall victory is the ultimate goal.
- The team's sport director, Rolf Aldag, expressed hope that despite the setbacks, they could still potentially secure a podium finish.
- Ralph Denk, Roglic's team boss, expressed gratitude for still being in contention for overall victory but also hoped for a smaller deficit.
- On Sunday, Italy saw a heavy crash during the gravel stage that resulted in Wlassow suffering a broken kneecap, leaving Roglic without a crucial team member.
- The tour victory in cycling's most prestigious race, the Tour de France, has yet to be secured by the Red Bull team.
- During the rest day in Orleáns, Roglic and his team focus on recovering and strategizing for the challenging mountain stages ahead in the Tour de France.
