Roglic rejects retirement talk - 'I want to race for 10 more years'
Four-time Vuelta a España champion and decorated winner Primoz Roglic has dismissed speculation about stepping down to a smaller team, insisting he still has 'the hunger to compete with the best' and hopes to continue racing for another decade.
"I don't want to think about it," Roglič said when asked about potentially moving to a lower-tier team in the future at the Red Bull media day in Spain. "I still have the hunger to compete with the best. You shouldn't look down but up."
The 36-year-old Slovenian shut down rumours that 2026 might be his final professional season, expressing his desire for a much longer career. "I hope not. I mean, I want to race this moment for 10 more years. As long as I feel that hunger and it makes me happy, I have to be happy, and I have to enjoy it," he said.
Roglič acknowledged a recent shift in his mentality, describing a healthier relationship with the sport. "I would say it's a bit, maybe a change in myself. It's a step out of being completely involved in cycling. I am not obsessed with winning one more stage or race. I will survive."
While admitting his dream race remains the Tour de France, Roglič was pragmatic about his exclusion from this year's race. "If I could choose one race to win, it would be the Tour de France; it's not a secret. The reality is different," he stated.
When asked about the possibility of competing in either the Giro d'Italia or Tour de France, Roglič remained non-committal. "I mean, there's always some chances. The fact is, you have to have some planning; there are lots of people around."
The arrival of Remco Evenepoel at his team has apparently created a more comfortable environment for the Slovenian. "On one hand, it's even a bit less pressure, but I don't even know why I would even have pressure. It's nice and beautiful. I like it," Roglič explained.
Despite only knowing his new teammate for a few days, Roglič offered positive first impressions of Evenepoel. "He's a nice guy. We are all probably different, but for the moment where we are now, I can say he's a nice guy and I enjoy."
As for targeting a historic fifth Vuelta title, Roglič suggested the increasing difficulty of modern racing presents significant challenges. "It's about how hard it will be. Now, in all races, it's becoming harder and harder as races are also becoming harder."
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