Primoz Roglic Addresses Time Penalty and Highlights the Impact on Both Himself and His Teammate

Roglic Addresses Time Penalty and Highlights Key Focus for Final Week of Vuelta: ‘This Is How You Keep the Momentum Going’

On the second and final rest day of the 2024 Vuelta a España, Primoz Roglic spoke with the press, reflecting on his position heading into the crucial final week of racing. The Slovenian leader of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is cautiously optimistic, knowing full well how unpredictable cycling can be with six days of competition still ahead. Despite his strong form, Roglic remains wary of the challenges to come.

Sunday proved to be a dramatic day for Roglic, who, alongside Enric Mas (Movistar), managed to break away from race leader Ben O’Connor and the other contenders for the general classification. However, a drafting violation after a planned bike change cost him a 20-second time penalty.

Roglic responded to the penalty on Monday when speaking with *IDLProCycling.com*: “I can’t change it, so I have to accept it. Of course, I would have preferred it didn’t happen, but there’s no use dwelling on it. It’s not ideal to have those extra 20 seconds to make up, but we move forward.”

He explained that his bike change before Ciutu Negru was pre-planned: “It didn’t go as expected, and the time penalty means we lost more than we gained,” Roglic said with a chuckle. “I wanted lighter gears for the steeper sections, but in hindsight, I wouldn’t do it again. Sometimes you try new things, and they don’t always work out.”

Roglic now faces a 1:03 minute deficit to Australian Ben O’Connor of Decathlon AG2R. “Ben is in top form, no doubt. He’s a fantastic rider and has shown strong results before,” Roglic acknowledged. “We’re in a better position than we were last week, but we’re still up against a formidable opponent.” Just a week ago, Roglic was trailing by nearly four minutes.

His ultimate goal remains to reclaim the red jersey. “It’s hard to predict what will happen, but we’re entering the final week in a good position. I’m still feeling strong and positive, but it’s not just about me; my team and the entire peloton have to be considered. Cycling is unpredictable—you gain time when you least expect it and lose time when you think you’re safe. One thing is certain: we’ll keep fighting until Sunday.”

Alongside Roglic, his teammate Florian Lipowitz is excelling in the general classification, currently wearing the white jersey. “He’s flying. This is my first time racing with him, and he’s already shown how good he is. It’s great to have him here in the Vuelta.”

Roglic on his teammates’ chances:
“That’s how you keep the wheels turning “

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe currently holds the white jersey, and Aleksandr Vlasov had his shot at a stage win on Sunday. Roglic emphasized the importance of these moments for the team. “We talk, we enjoy ourselves. Not everything works out, but by communicating, we keep the wheels turning. It keeps things simple because, in the end, cycling is mostly about having fun.”

As a three-time Vuelta winner and six-time participant, Roglic knows what it takes to navigate the final week of the race. “Out of all the grand tours, the Vuelta suits me best. But that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable with it. I’m just trying to enjoy the position we’re in and focus on getting the best out of ourselves.”

When asked if, at 34 (soon to be 35 in October), he feels the effects of age physically, Roglic responded with humor: “Please, don’t ask that. I still feel like I’m 18. It’s not like it was 15 years ago—things hurt more when you wake up. But the fact that I can still compete with these young guys makes me proud. In a way, it keeps me young, and I want to keep doing this for a while longer.”