- Apr 30, 2011
- 48,833
- 31,455
- 28,180
i dont mind if he continues to show bad signs like in the 2024 vuelta
Bad signs have been increasing.In 2024, something of Visma's Roglic remained.He had just had his best season in terms of physical performance in 2023. Two years later, that seems a long way off. Each year it gets harder for him to find that peak performance.
- Jul 10, 2014
- 15,112
- 26,245
- 28,180
They can't all the Valverde's even if we want them to be.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,494
- 14,176
- 23,180
This isn't conclusive regarding his prospective form in September but I have to interject here, i.e. no way is Rog favorite for the Vuelta this year. Not based on his current level.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 48,833
- 31,455
- 28,180
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,277
- 46,453
- 28,180
Well it would mostly be based on his level of the 2024 Vuelta, along with the bulk of 2026 results showing he's still got some results in him.
He's always been *** in the cold and rain, and today came after 5 days of non stop racing and it was absolutely piling down. Watts/kg numbers by everyone are diabolical, which is exactly the conditions in which Roglic never does well even when he's in great form.
Almost a full calender year full of excuses from people to keep up hope that Roglic is not washed and that he can still actually challenge the big guns.
Roglic has dropped to a level below the big guns and most of the time also below the category below that. Maybe in a weak field he can still challenge for the win, but the real level isnt there anymore.
Roglic has dropped to a level below the big guns and most of the time also below the category below that. Maybe in a weak field he can still challenge for the win, but the real level isnt there anymore.
Jarno Widar, who beat Seixas in the mountains last year
No, it's a joke. As I mentioned before, that could be Roglic's advantagi, poor startlist. Sicen this year the World Championships are in Canada there won't be any serious contenders.
For now, only Almeida is confirmed, and we'll have to see if his performance in Catalonia was an exception or if his season will be like this. Even so, Almeida is one of those riders who won't win a Grand Tour; I'd never bet money on him. He'd be defeat by Hesjedal, TAO o another Hindley, cyclists with worse results than him but with GT victory.
I would say that Almeid, at 27, the peak of an athlete, should be the favorite this year against Roglic, but some are born not to win certain races.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,277
- 46,453
- 28,180
He's only 36. There's still time to improve.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,494
- 14,176
- 23,180
Anyone with form. It's not about names anymore, just whomever has it on the day. Riders like Tobias Johannessen are now capable opponents this season. So I can't look at the startlist and discount the names around him because it's not about 'names' at all. Just legs. And the Vuelta is still months away so anyone else can suddenly reach heights you didn't expect. And whomever does that will be a problem for Rog at this level.
All true but the way he fell off today (& dropped yesterday) and the gap is just too big to discount entirely.
I always reckoned I was pretty fair with my assessment of his level but right now I can't put lipstick on this. It is what it is, i.e. no stress and I'm not really bothered by it all because all champs face the same thing at some point but seriously he's had no crashes (since the Giro last year) and he's still just hitting that same performance wall he's been hitting for ten months.
He has 6 years to improve and reach Chris Horner's peak.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,277
- 46,453
- 28,180
Yesterday wasn't that bad, he was dropping the meme riders you mentioned.
Today is just also once you get dropped midway through the stage, he's just not gonna give a *** about the difference between dropping 8 minutes or 25.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,494
- 14,176
- 23,180
Honestly the most impressive part was the fact he even finished today. People can say what they want about his level but the grit he has remains.
5x GT winner ladies and gents and he still rolls across the finish line - even when in the bottom 20 riders of the stage in some drenched no-win Itzulia stage.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,277
- 46,453
- 28,180
- Jun 30, 2022
- 7,961
- 11,501
- 17,180
I think it made the most, the real spot to abandon was before the second ascent of Elosua.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,494
- 14,176
- 23,180
The bus? Who said anything about heading for the bus? How about the nearest bar/bistro for a beer instead.
Cerveza, dos mas!
Cerveza, dos mas!
He's been 3rd, 10th, 25th in races before. When the last few days of strategy have been to launch and protect Lipo; it made no sense to waste energy when he got up the road. Super wet and cold I'm surprised he didn't just drop out. Likely there were no team cars near him on those narrow roads to retrieve him. He got his training in and moves on to the next target. At this point it's Lipowitz's upside that should concern fans and RBH.
If we like and root for a rider why wouldn’t we keep up hope? Do you start rooting for a different team if your previous favorite is on the decline? Agreed it be better to skip excuses, but is saying his main goal for the season is still 4 months away an excuse or a reality?
You can root for everybody of course thats fine. But by now I think it is abundently clear that this is not the same Primoz we saw a couple of years back.
His stomp is gone, the real climbs have become a weakness again, the TT is not a big advantage over competitors anymore.
Maybe it will work out in the Vuelta still. The WC is a big advantage for Roglic in that regard as the better riders are all not listed for the Vuelta.
And dont get me wrong, I like Roglic, I will like him to win this Vuelta to get the record. But pretending that he is still one of the top dogs in the peloton and that we have seen little signs of actual decline is just delusional.
Yes I am a very big Roglic fan but he clearly is not as good as he was. In 2026 he is not as good as in 2025, when he was not as good as in 2024, when he was (outside one race), not as good as in 2023…all of which should be expected of a rider my age. He is still a legend and can still I’m sure find a way to win a Vuelta, but 2 or 3 years ago you could still realistically hope he could pull of a Tour; now he is leagues away from that.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,494
- 14,176
- 23,180
It's a very difficult sport that's made to look way too easy by a few specimens at the top who give a Marvel bias to the perception of what can be achieved on the road.
Meanwhile back in reality there's riders out there who're struggling bigly just to keep up. No one even talks about someone like Tao GH anymore (3 years ago everyone had him as favorite for the Giro after the first week).
So Rog is where he is. I'd like to say "let him ride and be happy" but who are we kidding? We're probably this close to Denk or someone else smack talking him in the media for lack of results because that's just the nature of the beast. It's a cutthroat business.
Meanwhile back in reality there's riders out there who're struggling bigly just to keep up. No one even talks about someone like Tao GH anymore (3 years ago everyone had him as favorite for the Giro after the first week).
So Rog is where he is. I'd like to say "let him ride and be happy" but who are we kidding? We're probably this close to Denk or someone else smack talking him in the media for lack of results because that's just the nature of the beast. It's a cutthroat business.
Didnt TGH break his leg or suffered a really bad injury? Not to mention he is 31 years old. Many riders either retire, decline or falls into being useful doms for their team at that point.
I don’t know who that was directed to but I certainly am not suggesting he quit if he is enjoying riding, nor that he is a bottom feeder.
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