Primož Roglič won’t race the Tour de France in 2026, and will instead take aim at a record fifth Vuelta a España title, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe revealed on Wednesday in Mallorca.
The 2020 runner-up won’t be back at cycling’s biggest race as two younger, former podium finishers, Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz, lead the German squad’s general classification hopes in July.
Instead, Roglič will once again race the Spanish Grand Tour and, at 36, will be looking for his sixth Grand Tour overall victory, after racing a selective calendar in preparation.
Asked if it was a surprise to be left out of the Tour plans, Roglič was mature as ever and admitted a degree of realism was taken into account, despite winning the Tour remaining his biggest dream.
“I mean, it’s not a secret, but as I said, the reality is different. The level that I was finishing was different, and the first point to consider about myself is how to find the way to be competitive and compete for the victory and focus my energy and everything only on that – the rest will follow.
Roglič also confirmed that he hopes to continue racing past 2026, although it is a contract year for him at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, with no extension or potential move away announced yet.
“Honestly, I didn’t have any meetings yet, but I spoke with Zak and Ralph yesterday to put out that I’m starting with Tirreno, then doing the Basque Country, and that’s the start,” said Roglič.
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