Primož Roglič and his Giro d’Italia ambitions are in ruins after a disastrous ride Sunday on Stage 15 that saw the Slovenian star dropped by all GC rivals and lose 1:30 to maglia rosa Isaac del Toro.
Roglič, who has battled through a string of crashes in week two, cracked badly on the day’s final climb and was barely able to follow even his own Red Bull–Bora-Hansgrohe teammates trying to pace him to the line.
The five-time grand tour winner and pre-race favorite slipped from fifth to 10th overall, now 3:53 down on 21-year-old sensation del Toro.
“You have to keep the hope that you can try something else. I’m just happy that I finished the stage,” Roglič told TNT at the line before stepping into the team bus.
Also read: Verona keeps Lidl-Trek rolling in stage 15, Roglič cracks
As of Monday morning, there is still no official word from Red Bull–Bora-Hansgrohe officials. Some rumors are flying that the Slovenian could pull out of the race.
With the Giro’s mountainous final week looming and his form uncertain, a decision on whether Roglič continues in the race could come during the Giro’s final rest day.
Red Bull sports director Christian Pömer said the team’s medical staff would have the final say.
“This decision is in the hands of the medical team. Health comes first,” he told Slovenian media. “The team doctor will have the main say, who will assess whether Primož can continue or not.”
‘He never gives up’
After a week marred by crashes, including a heavy spill on the gravel stage and another on slick roads Saturday, Roglič’s setbacks were no real surprise.
But seeing how much he struggled Sunday on the second-category climb sent alarm bells ringing inside the team bus.
Roglič saved the day to at least make it to the finish line, and Monday’s final rest day will give him a chance to further recover.
The Giro’s final week is packed with longer and harder climbs, including Tuesday’s four-climb 16th stage ending atop the Cat. 1 San Valentino summit.
Rivals are not looking past Roglič yet, who is known for his tenacity and ability to bounce back.
“No, he is one of the strongest riders in this race, and he never gives up,” Del Toro said. “Maybe he had a bad day, and maybe he had some pain from his crashes. That can happen.”
Israel–Premier Tech’s Derek Gee — who’s bounced into fifth over the weekend — echoed the sentiment.
“A guy like Roglič, you can’t count him out,” the Canadian said. “Especially with a third week like that.”
From looking up to lifting up
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This is not where Red Bull was hoping to be going into the Giro’s final week.
The team made a bold bet to send Roglič to the Giro ahead of his expected Tour de France showdown with Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.
If he abandons, it would mark a massive blow to the German-backed squad’s bet on winning the season’s first grand tour. If he continues, there could be doubts whether he can recover in time to be a factor in July.
Roglič looked sharp in the Giro’s opening week, including a spell in pink, but the inevitable high costs of crashes have taken its toll on the 35-year-old.