Primož Roglič has pulled out of multiple warm up races ahead of his bid for a record-breaking fifth Vuelta a España after he was hit by a driver whilst on a training ride.
The 36-year-old was due to line up this weekend in the Clasica San Sebastian and then the Vuelta a Burgos, before lining up at the Spanish Grand Tour. But the crash left him with severe bruising on the back of his thighs.
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The incident occurred earlier this week whilst the Slovenian was out training. It’s not clear where the incident occurred, although Roglič had been training at altitude in Livigno the week before the collision. He also hashtagged a performance centre in Salzburg in his Instagram post announcing his injuries.
In a short caption confirming the incident he wrote, “Got hit by a car few days ago…🤕 I won’t be participating in San Sebastian and in Burgos unfortunately… not the best scenario, but its life, eh.”
“Now its all systems go towards La Vuelta, we work and hope things will turn around!🙏”
It’s not the first time Roglič has sustained injuries in an awkward part of the body. Following a crash on stage 3 of the 2021 Tour de France the Slovenian was heavily bandaged on his buttocks, as well as his hip, elbow, shoulder and legs. In a post on Instagram detailing his dressings, he likened himself to a mummy.
Remarkably, he continued racing the following day, before withdrawing from the race before stage 9 once the race entered the Alps. He recovered later that year to win an Olympic gold medal in the Individual Time Trial and a second of four Vuelta a España titles.
As a multiple Grand Tour winner, Roglič would have been one of the contenders for the Grand Tour, which begins in Monaco on 22nd August. However his results this spring have not matched his previous, Grand Tour-winning level, having finished 5th and 8th overall in Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Suisse respectively. He also finished 3rd in Milano-Torino, behind Tom Pidcock.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have confirmed that Roglič will leave the team at the end of the year following the expiry of his contract. He joined the team from Jumbo-Visma in 2024 as a team leader, but has since been usurped by the signing of Remco Evenepoel and the development of Florian Lipowitz.
There was speculation earlier in the year that he could retire at the end of the season, and was reportedly targeting the European Championships, held in his native Slovenia, as a possible farewell. However, transfer speculation in recent weeks suggests Roglič, who turns 37 in October, is keen to race for another season.
