Primož Roglič Withdraws from Tour de France Upon Second Crash
A day following his second crash in two stages, Primož Roglič has withdrawn from the Tour de France ahead of stage 13. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team confirmed Roglič’s exit before the sprint stage to Pau, citing the physical toll from his crashes as a key reason. Despite no concussions or fractures, the overall impact was deemed too severe for him to continue. "He had massive impacts from two crashes in a row,” said team director Rolf Aldag. Before his exit, Roglič lay fourth overall but dropped to sixth after crashing near the finish of stage 12.
The team’s optimism shattered with Roglič’s withdrawal, affecting their strategy for the Pyrenees. "Stage 11 gave us hope for the mountain days," Aldag explained. "Primož showed confidence and fighting spirit, and we believed in him." However, the crashes led to a more cautious approach in the subsequent stages. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe now has six riders left, having already lost Aleksandr Vlasov to a broken ankle in stage 10. Jai Hindley is currently their best-placed rider, holding 18th overall.
Looking ahead, the remaining team must recalibrate their goals for the Tour, which continues until Nice. "We have six world-class riders, and there’s still much to achieve," said Aldag. The team shows resilience, adapting to new objectives while respecting their preparation. While Roglič’s future plans remain uncertain, he may focus on the Vuelta a España, aiming for a fourth title in the race he dominated from 2019 to 2021. Despite these setbacks, Roglič’s determination and fighting spirit remain unwavering.
