'I wasn't at my best' - Roglic settles for tenth in front of home crowds at Euros

Primož Roglič said ninth was the best he could have taken from the European road race in Šenčur, having been distanced when the decisive move went and spent the closing kilometres fighting on his own, although he was ultimately classified tenth.

"I always say you always try to win, but my win today was this ninth place," Roglič said to cyclingpro.net. "I wasn't at my best, so I had a big fight to achieve this."

The split came when Giulio Ciccone attacked, and Remco Evenepoel went with him, a move that ended with Evenepoel crashing. Roglič was already losing contact by then.

"I was already dropped there a bit, I had a bit of a gap. If I was at my best or whatever, I should be there," he said. "From there on I was alone in that group, and it was a big fight to come here to the finish."

Slovenia hosted the championships for the first time, with the road races finishing in Šenčur after a start from Ljubljana's Congress Square and five laps of a circuit built around the climb to Možjanca. 

Tadej Pogačar, the defending champion and the reason the country bid for the event, missed it entirely after his Vuelta crash, leaving Roglič to lead the home team.

The crowds were out in force for the home nation hero.

"I was really enjoying all the crowds and all the people. This year, for sure, I will never forget. Big thanks to everyone," Roglič said.

He rides the time trial in on Wednesday over 21.9 kilometres, and thinks the shorter effort may suit him better.

"It's a bit shorter, so maybe it could be a bit better for me."