Imagine having the chance to make history, to stand alone at the top of your sport. That's exactly what's driving Primoz Roglic's decision to skip the 2026 Tour de France. He's laser-focused on securing a record-breaking fifth Vuelta a España victory.
The cycling world is buzzing about the new Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe super team. With so much talent under one roof, tough choices are inevitable. Zak Dempster, the team's 'chief of sports', has been tasked with navigating these decisions, and he recently shed light on Roglic's surprising choice.
Dempster revealed that Roglic himself requested to be excluded from the Tour de France lineup. After an unsuccessful Giro d'Italia campaign earlier this year, Roglic isn't interested in playing a supporting role or chasing stage wins at the Tour. He's got his sights set on something bigger. "He wants to win again, because that's what he enjoys," Dempster said, explaining Roglic's mindset. But here's where it gets controversial... some might argue that Roglic is passing up valuable opportunities to showcase his talent on the world's biggest stage. Is focusing solely on the Vuelta the right move, or is he limiting his potential?
Currently, Roglic is tied with Roberto Heras for the most Vuelta overall wins, with four victories each. This record has flown under the radar, but it's arguably one of the most attainable top-tier records in modern cycling, especially considering the dominance of riders like Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Remco Evenepoel in other major races.
"He can still claim stage wins in the Tour. And who knows what would have been possible in the general classification," Dempster acknowledged. "But he had a strong desire to take the right steps to win the Vuelta again. Whether that's still within his capabilities, we can argue about for days. But that's Primoz' priority." If Roglic succeeds in winning the Vuelta, he will become the first rider in history to achieve five victories in the Spanish Grand Tour. He previously conquered the race in 2019, 2020, 2021, and most recently in 2024 after joining the German team. He'll face stiff competition from riders like João Almeida, Felix Gall, Matthew Riccitello, Mattias Skjelmose, and Enric Mas, who have all confirmed their participation.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team is gearing up for the Tour de France with a strong lineup including Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz, both aiming for the coveted yellow jersey. Evenepoel, the Olympic Champion, will be making his debut with the team soon and will follow a carefully planned, less demanding schedule this spring to ensure he's fresh and ready for the Tour. He'll participate in the Mallorca Challenge's TTT and the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana before entering an extended training period leading up to the Volta a Catalunya.
Dempster justifies this significant break in racing by highlighting the intense demands of races like Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. "If you look at the toughest WorldTour races, you end up with Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya, and the Critérium du Dauphiné. You burn the most kilojoules in those races. That's why I think the combination of Paris-Nice and Catalunya is incredibly dangerous," he explained. Instead, Evenepoel will build his form gradually towards the Volta a Catalunya, a crucial climbing test, before focusing on the Ardennes classics, where he's expected to be Tadej Pogacar's main rival. "With the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in mind, we might take the beginning of March off. That way, we can get Remco through the season relatively fresh."
The Tour de France shortlist is surprisingly open for the German team. While Evenepoel and Lipowitz are confirmed, along with Mattia Cattaneo and Maxim van Gils, several spots remain up for grabs. Even a sprinter like Jordi Meeus could potentially secure a place, depending on his performance throughout the season.
"Without going into too much detail: we have guys on the team who have stood on the podium of Grand Tours and who could also be in our Tour squad now. Daniel Felipe Martínez is an example of that. He had a very difficult 2025, but I absolutely see him as a key figure in our team," Dempster added. And this is the part most people miss... Dempster hints that the team might not solely focus on the general classification, recognizing the importance of stage wins.
“Last year, you also saw eight stages won by attackers. We need those kinds of guys, who can slip along and be competitive on those stages. In that respect, we can discuss someone like Jai Hindley, whether he'll come to the Tour after the Giro as a domestique and stage-hunter. Maxim Van Gils, like Dani, has also had a difficult year, but why shouldn't he be able to join us? Stage four will already be for a breakaway; that stage suits him almost perfectly.”
Ultimately, the team aims to assemble a well-rounded squad capable of supporting its leaders on both flat and hilly terrain, allowing them to excel in the mountains. “You just have to find the right balance. You also need an engine room. That's one reason why we signed someone like Mattia Cattaneo. Someone like Nico Denz is also very good at that, Jan Tratnik is world-class at his job, and so is Gianni Moscon," Dempster stated. He also highlighted a new generation of strong support riders, including Mick and Tim van Dijke, and Laurence Pithie. "We have work to do, and we'll bring the best team with us no matter what."
So, what do you think about Roglic's decision? Is he making the right choice by prioritizing the Vuelta, or should he be aiming for glory at the Tour de France? And how do you rate Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe's chances in both Grand Tours?
