Primož Roglič missed on the stage victory on the Critérium du Dauphiné within the mist enshrouded Col de la Loge however confirmed he’s on kind because the Tour de France nears and grabbed some valuable bonus seconds.
Roglič completed second to Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) who emerged first from the mist to catch Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and beat him in a surge to the uphill end.
The Critérium du Dauphiné, which Roglič received general in 2022, is his first race again since he was caught up within the mass Itzulia Basque Country crash.
Fresh off an altitude coaching camp in Sierra Nevada, Spain however with minimal racing to this point this season, Roglič admitted that he feels “the season has but to start out.”
Roglič has traced for simply 14 days to this point in 2024 however opted to not rush his return after the Itzulia Basque Country crash. After his transfer from Jumbo-Visma to Bora-Hansgrohe, Roglič is absolutely targeted on the Tour de France.
“There was no level in beginning earlier after my fall. It wouldn’t have finished me any good, as a result of there are not any straightforward races nowadays,” he stated.
As Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Tuesday, Roglič’s accidents from the crash weren’t minor, even when he was fortunate sufficient to not endure any fractures like Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. For ten days he didn’t experience a motorbike, his first coaching session was a scant 10 minutes and he had to make use of trainers moderately than regular bike footwear to minimise the ache.
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“He had extreme bruises throughout his physique, the impression of the autumn was very nice,” Bora-Hansgrohe workforce supervisor Rolf Aldag informed Het Laatste Nieuws. “Even if you have not damaged any bones like him, it takes time to get better.”
Fortunately the Tour de France and Roglič’s general ambitions weren’t in danger.
“No one was nervous. It was nonetheless a very long time till July and the beginning of the Tour de France. There was time to get better, rebuild, do an altitude coaching and be prepared once more,” Aldag defined.
Missing was the possibility to race together with his new Bora-Hansgrohe teammates.
“We aren’t stressing,” Aldag stated of Roglič’s anticipated efficiency within the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“Of course Primoz will wish to take a look at his legs and see the place he stands. But he doesn’t must win the Dauphiné. If the outcomes do come, it will likely be proof for us that we’re doing properly as a workforce. We’re focussed on course of, consistency, being certain individuals know their position. Hopefully that’ll carry us the outcomes.”
Roglič impressed on the primary uphill end of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Teammates Alexsandr Vlasov and Jai Hindley may very well be seen upping the tempo within the peloton on the grinding ascent of the Col de la Loge. After Armirail was caught nearby of the road, Roglič got here inside a whisker of taking what would have been simply the second Dauphiné stage of his profession.
“It was a detailed factor,” the Bora-Hansgrohe chief stated. “But it was onerous to guage on the finish [and read] the general state of affairs, it was a giant group.”
“Everyone is super-fit and on the finish, one was quicker.”