Cycling, Roglic on Pogacar: "Today he is unbeatable and could still improve"

The Slovenian is blunt about his compatriot and his career: "I've won a lot and I'm happy even if the Tour de France doesn't come"

di GIUSY ANNA MARIA D'ALESSIO
5th November 2024
Primoz Roglic (Ansa)

Primoz Roglic (Ansa)

Rome, 5 November 2024 - The manifesto of the very young cycling movement of the Slovenia, which has now become almost the national sport, is Tadej pogacar, but the winning dynasty was inaugurated by Cousin Roglic, whose career is embellished by many high notes but also by a very big problem: that Tour de France touched in the 2020 before the 'snatching' of his fellow countryman. A worry that the newly 35-year-old has learned to live with.

"Pogacar is unbeatable today"

 "It is a fact that I no longer have 20 years. I'm not that young anymore and every year that passes is another year that I carry with me". In fact, in the context of current cycling, Roglic he is the most experienced of the group of top players, which is much larger than himself pogacar, 26 years completed in September: jonas vingegaard it will turn off in December 28 candles, while Remco Evenepoel in January it will go towards the 25 years. Among all of them, however, the 2024 elected an absolute king."pogacar he's absolutely unbeatable at the moment. It's difficult to compete with him, even though it's clear that I would like to win. Tadej last year he ran at a very, very high level and, in fact, maybe in the 2025 could be even stronger: we can't know, but I only know that I will try to give the best version of myself". That of Roglic it is obviously not a surrender but an awareness that, by broadening the spectrum to a more distant past, arrives at that regret called Tour de France which however seems to have been very well cushioned by the person concerned. "I can say that I am very happy with the results achieved so far in my career. There is no race that I still have to win to feel satisfied and my view on what I have done will not change if I were to add a few more successes. It would be nice to win the Tour de France - he admits Roglic - but even without this sharpness my list of achievements would still be excellent."

Skjelmose towards the Tour de France 2025

For the moment he remains out of the ranks of the champions Mattias Skjelmose, on which however at home Lidl Trek, as stated by the sports director Kim Andersen to the microphones of Extra Blade, count for a lot already in view of the next Great Boucle. "I think the route is fantastic and that in the end it becomes incredibly challenging thanks to the many uphill finishes. It will be a traditional route, with a flat start and a tough finish, but definitely very spectacular. At the moment we haven't planned anything yet, but I think the route is suitable for Skjelmose thanks to the flat time trial and the fractions that could reserve attacks from afar and fans". The fact is that the Dane, regardless of the menu of the Great Boucle, will have to improve further to be able to reach certain levels. "Mattias will have to make a qualitative leap. We hope it will, but we know it will be a slow and gradual process. For now - he concludes Andersen - has already demonstrated that it can compete in a Great Tour: now he has to take a step further and increase his shots even further".

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