Primoz Roglic set to join Tadej Pogacar at Rwanda Worlds
Het Laatste Nieuws reports that Pogacar will be able to count on the support of Roglic in a strong Slovenian squad at the World Championships.
Primož Roglič looks set to buck the prevailing trend and line up at the World Championships in Kigali later this month. While star names such as Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson have opted out of the trip to Rwanda, Het Laatste Nieuws reports that Roglič will line out alongside defending champion Tadej Pogačar in the Slovenian team.
The 35-year-old placed eighth overall at the Tour de France in July, but he hasn’t raced since the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa on August 2. The four-time Vuelta a España rider is currently missing the final Grand Tour of the season for the first time since 2018, having already raced the Giro d'Italia and Tour this year.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Roglič will ride the elite men’s road race on September 28, where Pogačar is the overwhelming favourite for victory. The Belgian newspaper added that Roglič will not ride the time trial in Rwanda, nor is he likely to travel to Canada for the Grand Prix de Québec and the Grand Prix de Montréal beforehand. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider is expected to ride some Autumn Classics in Italy, bringing his season to a close at Il Lombardia.
Pogačar hasn’t raced since the Tour, but the world champion will return to action in Canada before travelling to Rwanda. He has reportedly been considering a tilt at the Worlds individual time trial on September 21, though his participation has not been confirmed.
Remco Evenepoel will race both the time trial and road race in Rwanda, and the Belgian is set to be Pogačar’s chief rival at the Worlds. He returns to competition at the Tour of Britain this week after a lay-off following his Tour de France abandon in July. Evenepoel will leave Soudal-QuickStep at season's end and race alongside Roglič at Red Bull next season.
Other podium contenders currently in line to compete in the demanding elite men’s road race at the Kigali Worlds include Jai Hindley (Australia), Ben Healy (Ireland), Juan Ayuso (Spain) and Richard Carapaz (Ecuador).
