Four instances Vuelta a España winner Roberto Heras has seen his general victory report equalled by Primoz Roglič on Sunday – however the now retired Spanish climber doesn’t rule out the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe going one higher and conquering the Vuelta once more in 2025.
Roglič’s claimed his fourth Vuelta title this night, together with his wins in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024 matching Heras’ 4 triumphs in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Due to show 35 on October 29, Roglič is the third oldest ever Grand Tour winner in historical past, after Chris Horner aged 41 years and 327 days within the 2013 Vuelta a España, and Firmin Lambot within the 1922 Tour de France aged 36 years and 130 days.
But Heras feels one other Vuelta victory is certainly inside Roglič’s attain in 2025, though he warns that if Tadej Pogačar and/or Jonas Vingegaard participate subsequent yr, will probably be a way more difficult process.
Closely following this yr’s race, Heras advised Cyclingnews that he couldn’t fail to be impressed by how Roglič had managed to show the race in his favour, even utilizing the breakaway by Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) on stage 6 to his benefit.
“It was a bit dangerous with O’Connor as a result of he was fourth within the Giro d’Italia and fourth within the Tour, they usually let him acquire an excessive amount of time. But Roglič confirmed that with out panicking he was in a position to pull again the time on all of the completely different climbs after which declare the jersey again in Moncalvillo.”
“Maybe he wasn’t as robust as different years, however he raced very intelligently.”
As Heras factors out the breakaway with O’Connor gave the race a level of curiosity that maybe would have been missing had Roglič’s superiority been extra clearly established from the beginning.
“That helped preserve the strain since you by no means knew how a lot or how little time Roglič would be capable to pull again on every mountain stage, notably as he wasn’t delivering actually dominating performances every day. Nothing may very well be taken as a right.”
“If he’d simply taken the lead on stage 4 after which held all of it the way in which to the end, it will have been far more predictable.”
Quite other than Roglič’s personal efficiency, Heras was notably impressed with how Red Bull had managed to play off one rival group towards one other, and because of this, didn’t have to make use of up an excessive amount of power too quickly within the race.
“In sure factors of a race, managing your group’s effort in a three-week race is as basic as what the person leaders do and within the Vuelta this yr Bora didn’t must work from starting to finish, in order that was positively of their favour.”
“At the identical time, Bora had been all the time in a position to preserve help riders with Roglič up till the final three or 4 kilometres on every climb, and that was one other signal of how properly they had been dealing with their race, too.”
As for whether or not Roglič may win a fifth Vuelta a España, Heras argues that “so much, however not every part, is determined by whether or not Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) or Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) participate.”
“We know proper now that each Pogačar and Vingegaard are hands-down favourites for Grand Tours wherever they race, so clearly if they arrive to the Vuelta with the purpose of successful then it’d be so much more durable.”
“But in fact, Roglič’d nonetheless have choices on the ultimate victory too even so. And there’s little doubt that on the subject of Grand Tour racing, Roglič is aware of precisely the way to handle his effort and his restoration to have the ability to go for the win.”
“So sure, he may go for a fifth. With Pogačar and Vingegaard on the beginning line, it’d be so much more durable to take a victory, however even then you definately positively couldn’t rule it out. In truth with Roglič, he’s bought a lot class and dedication, that you simply by no means can.”
Heras feels the identical state of affairs additionally applies within the Tour de France, that Vingegaard and Pogačar can be massively influential elements on whether or not Roglič may go for a win, however once more, he says it’s “troublesome” however not not possible. Nor does Heras really feel that Roglič’s age is essentially an obstacle to choosing Vuelta victory quantity 5, given he began each driving a motorcycle and his skilled profession comparatively late.
Compared to a lot youthful challengers, he argues, he nonetheless has comparatively little underlying put on and tear on his physique of racing at a excessive degree.
“It’s not simply bodily, but additionally psychological,” Heras factors out. “It’s true that as you become old on paper the utmost degree at which you’ll be able to carry out ought to are inclined to drop off, little by little. But the psychological aspect of issues has an enormous impact on what you are able to do bodily and he’ll know what he can nonetheless go on to do in a three-week stage race subsequent yr.”
“He’s a tremendous rider with an enormous palmares from all types of races from one-days to week-long stage races to Grand Tours. I’m very proud to have the ability to share this report with him.”
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the 2024 Vuelta a España – together with breaking information and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom from each stage because it occurs and extra. Find out extra.