'It's a never-ending process' – Roglic takes on Taiwan challenge but remains coy on 2027 plans

Primož Roglič has completed his time in Taiwan without revealing if he will race on in 2027. He lined out at the Taiwan Masters Ride last week, but he did not shed any light on his future plans.

The 37-year-old is running out of time and team options, and he may ultimately decide to retire after 11 seasons as a pro rider. His palmares includes four victories at the Vuelta a España, the 2023 Giro d'Italia and multiple stage race victories.

Last week Domestique confirmed that negotiations with Pinarello Q36.5 ended after the two sides ultimately failed to reach a deal. Similar talks with Visma | Lease a Bike and Unibet Rose Rockets also failed and Roglič reportedly turned down a deal with Lotto-Intermarché.

Roglič rode his last race in Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe colours at Il Lombardia, but he travelled to Taiwan as a special guest at the Taiwan Masters Ride.

He attempted to beat the record on the Wuling Pass near Taipei, but he failed despite pacing from several Taiwanese riders after apparently not riding his bike for the last four weeks. 

Roglič posed for photographs at the summit of the climb and talked cryptically about the pain of cycling. The Slovenian is well known for his complex thoughts and considerations.

"I think it depends on the feeling or the state you are in, no?" Roglič said in a Taiwan Masters Ride video posted on social media.

"Normally it's just fatigue, so as you are tired and the body screams 'please stop', it's just a fight with that inner voice that wants to stop. You're sad, yes, but we'll just continue without hearing it."

The video showed Roglič trying to beat the record for the  Wuling Pass climb. He had the help of Yen Yo Ho and Li Ting Wei, Taiwanese pro riders from Equipo Kern Pharma and Factor Racing, and a number of other local riders.

"The people that you collect on the way, or they collect you, that you have around, they help the influence at the end on you," Roglič said.

"I think yes, they left a mark on me. I'm always open to learning, to know more, and the more you know, the more you know that you don't know, so it's a never-ending process."

Roglič came back from being hit by a car in training to finish second at the Vuelta a España behind Enric Mas and then won the European time trial title in Slovenia. Those results perhaps tempted him to race on.

By Il Lombardia a week later, however, he was more uncertain of racing on, with rumours circulating he was considering retirement.

"You never know when is the last one. Like everything in life, it can be a bit emotional," Roglič told Domestique and other media present in Italy.