Roglic wins Slovenian time trial championships after six year absence
In his long-awaited return to his national championships on home soil, Primoz Roglic was the fastest in the race against the clock.
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) powered his way to victory in the Slovenian time trial championships on Friday afternoon. The Red Bull rider posted a time of 34:25 on the 28.8km course around Karteljevo to become national champion in the time trial discipline for the first time since 2016.
Roglič finished 1:28 ahead of Roman Ermakov (Bahrain-Victorious) in second, while road race champion Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain-Victorious) rounded out the podium at 1:41. Defending champion Mihael Štajnar (Pogi Team Gusto Ljubljana) finished in seventh place at 4:25.
It's the 36-year-old’s first victory in over a year, going back to when he wrapped up the GC at the Volta a Catalunya in March 2025, and his 92nd professional win on the road.
Nika Bobnar (Nexetis) won the Elite Women's national title, finishing 1:39 ahead of Zoja Ferlež (Torelli) while Dominika Štrukelj (Born to win BTC City Ljubljana) ended in third at 2:13.
The 2026 edition of the Slovenian nationals marks the first edition since 2020 that sees Roglič compete for victory. Back in 2020, Roglič beat Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) to the road race title, while the result was reversed in the time trial a week later.
The duo would go on to battle it out at the delayed Tour de France, where Pogačar snatched the yellow jersey in the stage 20 time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles.
While Pogačar is preparing to hunt for a record-equalling fifth Tour title in July, Roglič will not take to the start in Barcelona, and instead will focus on preparing for the Vuelta a España, a race he has won a record-equalling four times. The Vuelta begins in Monaco on August 22 with a 9km individual time trial, where Roglič will have the chance to sport the Slovenian champion's jersey.
Before then, Roglič will look to see if he can double up at the national championships with the road race on Sunday, where 20-year-old Omrzel will start as defending champion.
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