'It's for all the people': Roglic caps Slovenia's European Championships in style with TT victory

When Slovenia was awarded the European Championships for 2025, the organisers would have no doubt envisioned Tadej Pogačar claiming victory on home soil in the road race to see a Slovenian crowned European Champion. 

Those hopes were dashed when Pogačar crashed out of the Vuelta a España on stage 8. However, there was no need to worry as Primož Roglič stepped up to the plate by rocketing to victory in the time trial event, in what he described as a “beautiful” moment to cap off the 2026 Championships. 

The 36-year-old had shown strong form since his second-place finish at the Vuelta, racing combatively in the World Championship road race in Montréal, before taking tenth in the European road race on Sunday.

With defending time trial champion Remco Evenepoel opting to skip the event after his road race win to focus on Il Lombardia, the door was wide open for Roglič to seize the opportunity. 

That’s exactly what he did, beating France’s Bruno Armirail by six seconds over the 22.1km course around Šenćur, while Armirail’s compatriot Maxime Decomble took the bronze medal after finishing 28 seconds behind the Slovenian. 

Despite having already racked up 92 victories on the road prior to Wednesday’s time trial, the significance of victory number 93 coming in Slovenia was not lost on Rogliċ. 

“Beautiful. I mean, of course, it’s for me, but I think it’s also for all of the people. Everyone out all these days, not just today, all the people that make it possible to have these championships in Slovenia,” Roglič said in his post-race interview. 

“So I think it’s just a beautiful finish to this event for all of us. So, yes, thank you and cheers.”

Roglič set his stall out early, posting the benchmark time through the first intermediate checkpoint after 8km of racing at the top of the Možjanca climb. 

He would hold his advantage over the remaining 14km to take the title, and when asked where he thought he made the difference, Roglič admitted that he wasn’t sure since his radio stopped working very early into his effort. 

“I don’t know, actually, because I didn’t have my radio,” replied Roglič when asked where he made the difference. “It went off probably in the first kilometre of the race, so I was completely lost. I just did it on my feelings.”

“So yeah, we have to review it, to check it, but I definitely put everything on the road, and luckily it was enough. So I’m really happy.”