Primoz Roglic will no longer get on Sunday for the fifteenth stage in the Tour de France. The Slovenian from Jumbo-Visma, an important servant of yellow jersey wearer Jonas Vingegaard, was not at the top of his ability due to a crash in the first week.
“We have decided that I should not start so that my injuries can heal,” says 32-year-old Roglic. “I am proud of my contribution to our current standings. I am confident that the team will achieve our yellow and green ambitions. Thank you everyone for the great support.”
In advance, Roglic was considered one of the two leaders of Jumbo-Visma, next to Vingegaard. The number two of the Tour de France in 2020 more or less lost his classification ambitions in the fifth stage, when he fell due to a straw bale on the road in the final phase of the cobblestone stage.
Roglic suffered several abrasions and had to put his shoulder back in the socket on the spot. After that dramatic stage for Jumbo-Visma, he no longer made a great impression in the Tour. “He is not good enough to follow the best ten,” said sports director Frans Maassen on Saturday after the fourteenth stage.
Jonas Vingegaard can no longer count on Primoz Roglic in his battle with Tadej Pogacar for the overall victory in the Tour.
Jonas Vingegaard can no longer count on Primoz Roglic in his battle with Tadej Pogacar for the overall victory in the Tour. Photo: Getty Images
Roglic occupies 21st place in the general classification
The hope was that Roglic could still play a significant role for yellow jersey champion Vingegaard in the Pyrenees, but it won’t get that far. The Slovenian occupied 21st place in the general classification, 33 minutes and 39 seconds from teammate Vingegaard.
Roglic was on his fifth Tour de France. The three-time winner of the Vuelta a España was very close to the overall victory in the Tour de France in 2020, but in the penultimate stage – an individual time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles – Roglic lost his large lead over the later winner Tadej Pogacar.
The Tour de France continues on Sunday with a hilly stage. The peloton departs from Rodez and arrives 202.5 kilometers further in Carcassonne. Vingegaard cherishes a lead of two minutes and 22 seconds on closest attacker Pogacar.