Roglic to skip Tour de France, sets sights on record fifth Vuelta title, Evenepoel to share lead with Lipowitz

Slovenian Primoz Roglic says he is being realistic about his chances of winning the Tour de France and will not compete in cycling’s biggest race next year, instead focusing on winning a record fifth Vuelta a Espana title.

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s Roglic won his fourth Vuelta title in 2024 to move level with Spaniard Roberto Heras, but the 36-year-old has not seen the same level of success at the Tour de France, coming closest in 2020 when he finished runner-up behind compatriot Tadej Pogacar.

He finished eighth overall this year, well behind Pogacar, who lifted his fourth Tour de France title in July.

On Wednesday, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe confirmed their Tour de France campaign would be spearheaded by Belgian Remco Evenepoel and German Florian Lipowitz.

Asked about the decision, Roglic told reporters: “(If) I can choose one race to win, I would sign the Tour de France.

“I mean, it’s not a secret, but as I said, the reality is different. The level that I was finishing was different, and the first point to consider about myself is how to find the way to be competitive and compete for victories and focus my energy and everything only on that - the rest will follow.

“If you ask me straight, for results, if I’m second in the general classification of the Tour or winning the Vuelta, what will I choose? I (would) win the Vuelta, it’s simple.”

Roglic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic time trial champion, also won the Giro d’Italia in 2023.

Meanwhile, Remco Evenepoel will share the leadership role with Florian Lipowitz at the 2026 Tour de France, he said at Red Bull Bora’s training camp in Mallorca on Wednesday.

Double Olympic and multiple world champion Evenepoel has joined Lipowitz at Red Bull after a move from Belgian outfit Quick Step.

“This will be the first time I share leadership in the Tour de France. That’s a good thing, it’s always better to have several options.

“We are both aiming for the ultimate goal: victory,” said the soon to be 26-year-old sporting a new goatee beard.

Evenepoel came third at the Tour de France in 2024, but had to abandon this year on the slopes of the Tourmalet during the 14th stage.

He then went to Rwanda and won the world time trial title in sensational style.

But at the Tour, Lipowitz took third in what was a breakout season for him.

The German said Wednesday that it would be an “advantage” to start with two leaders to try to compete with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, winners between them of the last six editions.

Evenepoel will concentrate on the Tour de France (July 4-26) and will therefore not compete in the Giro d’Italia in May where Red Bull Bora will line up the Italian Giulio Pellizzari as leader, accompanied by Jai Hindley and Aleksandr Vlasov.

The Slovenian veteran Primoz Roglic will concentrate on the Vuelta a Espana.

Evenepoel said he would not be racing either Milan-San Remo or at the Tour of Flanders, one-day races he has yet to compete in.

But in the big one-day events he has promised to target a third triumph at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Hoy recovers from ‘worst’ crash

British six-time Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy said he recently suffered the ‘worst’ crash of his life as he receives treatment for cancer.

The former track star revealed last year that his cancer was terminal but the 49-year-old has continued to ride his mountain bike.

Hoy said earlier this year that he had entered “a bit of a stability stage” in his treatment.

In an interview with Sky Sports published on Thursday, the Scotsman said he had “smashed his leg up” while riding.

“That’s the worst thing that’s happened recently,” he said. “You just don’t bounce like you do when you’re younger.

“It was a big one. I’m doing better now, I’m still on crutches, hobbling about.”

He added: “Worse things happen. I’ve been riding bikes for 43 years and it’s the worst crash I’ve ever had.”

Only fellow track cyclist Jason Kenny, with seven Olympic golds, is above Hoy in the all-time list of British Olympians.

Hoy also claimed 11 world championship golds during his glittering career.

He announced in February 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and later that year said the diagnosis was terminal after the cancer spread.

He said he had been told by doctors that he had between two and four years to live.

Hoy said he was “not a massive risk-taker” but wanted to make the most of his life.

“None of us is here forever so you want to make the most of the time you have and do the things you enjoy,” he added.

“I’ve just had an unfortunate spill and it’s the way the cookie crumbles. I’m doing all right now. I wasn’t doing so well in the immediate aftermath of it, but looking forward to Christmas.”

Agencies