Primož Roglič facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Primož Roglič

Roglič in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Primož Roglič
Nickname	Rogla
Born	(1989-10-29) 29 October 1989 (age 35) Trbovlje, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb)
Team information
Current team	Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France 3 individual stages (2017, 2018, 2020) Giro d'Italia General classification (2023) 4 individual stages (2016, 2019, 2023) Vuelta a España General classification (2019, 2020, 2021, 2024) Points classification (2019, 2020) 15 individual stages (2019–2024) 1 TTT stage (2022) Stage races Critérium du Dauphiné (2022, 2024) Tirreno–Adriatico (2019, 2023) Tour of the Basque Country (2018, 2021) Tour de Romandie (2018, 2019) Paris–Nice (2022) Volta a Catalunya (2023) UAE Tour (2019) Volta ao Algarve (2017) Vuelta a Burgos (2023) One-day races and Classics Olympic Games Time Trial (2020) National Road Race Championships (2020) National Time Trial Championships (2016) Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2020) Giro dell'Emilia (2019, 2021, 2023) Milano–Torino (2021) Tre Valli Varesine (2019) Other UCI World Ranking (2019, 2020) UCI Europe Tour (2019, 2020) Vélo d'Or (2020)

Primož Roglič (born 29 October 1989) is a professional racing cyclist from Slovenia. He rides for the Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe team. Before becoming a cyclist, Roglič was a ski jumper. He switched to cycling after an accident.

Even though he started cycling professionally at age 23, which is quite late, Roglič has become one of the best cyclists of his time. He has won many important races. These include time trials, week-long stage races, and major Grand Tours.

Roglič has won five Grand Tours. He won the Vuelta a España a record-tying four times (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024). He also won the Giro d'Italia in 2023. He was the first Slovenian cyclist to win either of these big races. He also finished second in the 2020 Tour de France. He was the first Slovenian to wear the yellow jersey in that race.

In 2020, Roglič won the famous cycling monument race, Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Because of his success, he won the Vélo d'Or award. This award goes to the most successful cyclist of the year. In 2021, he won a gold medal at the Olympics in the men's individual time trial. This was Slovenia's first cycling medal.

Between 2019 and 2021, Roglič was ranked No. 1 in the world for 75 weeks. This was a record at the time. He has also finished as the year-end No. 1 twice.

Primož Roglič's Journey: From Ski Jumper to Cycling Star

Early Life and Ski Jumping Career

Primož Roglič was born in Trbovlje, Slovenia. He started ski jumping when he was 10 years old. He practiced at a local jump near his home. In 2003, at age 13, he competed in his first international event in Austria.

In 2006, Roglič joined the Slovenian team for the 2006 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships. His team won a silver medal. The next year, in Slovenia, Roglič won a gold medal in the team event.

In 2007, Roglič had a big crash during training in Slovenia. He was airlifted to the hospital but was not seriously hurt. He continued to compete until 2011. However, he didn't achieve any more major wins. He also wasn't chosen for the Olympic team. Roglič's best jump was 185 metres (607 feet). He also won two Continental Cup events.

Switching to Road Cycling

Roglič officially stopped ski jumping in 2012. He felt he couldn't reach the top levels of the sport. He then tried other sports like duathlon and triathlon. During this time, he was studying at the University of Kranj. He also worked different jobs, like selling cleaning products.

Roglič started racing in local amateur cycling events. Even though he had limited experience, he decided to become a professional cyclist. He was inspired by a meeting with former cyclist Andrej Hauptman. Roglič sold his motorcycle and bought a racing bike. He started riding with a development cycling team.

At first, Roglič wasn't very good at handling his bike. He also didn't know much about racing. But he quickly showed he was a great climber. At 22, tests showed his VO2 max was 80.2. This number is very close to the best cyclists. Roglič believes his ski jumping training helped him. It taught him core stability, balance, and flexibility.

First Professional Team: Adria Mobil (2013–2015)

After less than a year of cycling training, Roglič signed his first professional contract. This was for the 2013 season with the Adria Mobil team. In 2013, his best result was 15th place at the Tour of Slovenia. The next year, he won his first professional race. He won a mountain stage of the Tour d'Azerbaïdjan.

He stayed with the team for three seasons. In 2015, he had a very successful year. He won the Tour de Slovenia and the Tour d'Azerbaïdjan. After this, he signed a contract with LottoNL–Jumbo for the 2016 season.

Joining the World Tour: LottoNL–Jumbo (2016–2023)

2016: Grand Tour Debut

In his first year at the top level of cycling, Roglič quickly showed his talent. He finished 5th overall at the Volta ao Algarve. A month later, he was 2nd on a stage at the Volta a Catalunya.

Roglič then started his first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia. He surprised everyone by finishing second in the opening time trial. He was only a tiny bit slower than the winner. He then won the 9th stage, which was a 40.5-kilometre (25.2-mile) individual time trial. This win was a big surprise. He had to use a spare bike because his main bike didn't meet race rules. He couldn't even use his computer to see his time. Just two weeks after the Giro, Roglič won the Slovenian National Time Trial Championships. He also finished 10th in the time trial at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

2017: First Tour de France Stage Win

Roglič on his way to winning stage 17 of the 2017 Tour de France.

In 2017, Roglič started by winning the Volta ao Algarve. He then finished 4th overall in Tirreno–Adriatico. At the Tour of the Basque Country, he won two stages and finished 5th overall. He quickly got another win at the Tour de Romandie. He won a time trial stage and finished 3rd overall.

In June 2017, Roglič was chosen for the Tour de France. He won stage 17, becoming the first Slovenian to win a Tour de France stage. He also earned enough points on climbs to finish 2nd in the Mountains classification. At the World Championships, Roglič aimed for the individual time trial. He finished 2nd in the event.

2018: Success in Stage Races

Roglič (left) on stage 19 of the 2018 Tour de France.

The 2018 season showed Roglič's great potential in stage races. He won the overall titles at the Tour of the Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour of Slovenia. In the Tour de France, Roglič avoided crashes. This helped him stay with the top riders. He attacked on a downhill section and won stage 19. This put him in third place overall. Roglič finished the 2018 Tour in fourth place.

2019: First Vuelta Win

Roglič (centre) won the 2019 Vuelta a España, becoming the first Slovenian rider to win a Grand Tour.

Roglič won the Tirreno–Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie in 2019. He was a favorite for the Giro d'Italia. He finished 3rd overall and wore the pink leader's jersey for six stages. He also won two time trial stages.

In August 2019, Roglič started the Vuelta a España. He was six seconds behind the leader before the stage ten time trial. Roglič rode the fastest time in the 36.2-kilometre (22.5-mile) stage. He gained a lot of time on his rivals. This win meant he had won stages in all three Grand Tours. He kept the red and green jerseys for the rest of the race. He became the first Slovenian to win a Grand Tour. He also won two Italian races in October: the Giro dell'Emilia and Tre Valli Varesine.

2020: Tour Runner-up, Second Vuelta Win

Roglič during the final time trial of the 2020 Tour de France.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Roglič's first race of 2020 was the Slovenian National Road Race Championships. He won the national road race title for the first time. The next weekend, Tadej Pogačar beat him in the Slovenian National Time Trial Championships.

Roglič started strong at the Tour de France. He won the fourth stage. He took the overall race lead on the ninth stage. He kept a good lead going into the final time trial. However, Pogačar rode an amazing time trial. He gained almost two minutes on Roglič. This meant Pogačar won the Tour by 59 seconds.

After the Tour, Roglič finished sixth in the road race at the World Championships. At Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Roglič won his first major "Monument" race. He just beat world champion Julian Alaphilippe at the finish line.

Roglič then raced the Vuelta a España as the defending champion. He won the first stage. He lost the lead on stage six but got it back on stage eight. He won another stage on stage ten. He was tied on time with Richard Carapaz. Roglič took the red jersey because of his better stage finishes. On stage 12, he struggled on a steep climb and lost time.

After a rest day, Roglič won the time trial. This was his fourth stage win. He gained time on his rivals and got the red jersey back. On the second-to-last stage, he lost some time to Carapaz. But he still had a 24-second lead. He safely finished the last stage to win the Vuelta. He was the first rider to win the Vuelta two times in a row since 2005. He also won the points classification for the second year in a row.

2021: Third Vuelta Win and Olympic Gold

Roglič won three stages at Paris–Nice. But he lost the overall win on the last day after two crashes. He still won the points classification. Roglič also won the overall title at his next race, the Tour of the Basque Country. He won the opening time trial and the points and mountains classifications.

He raced in the three Ardennes classics for the first time. His best result was second place at La Flèche Wallonne. In the Tour de France, Roglič crashed on stage 3 and lost a lot of time. He later had to leave the race.

He then went to the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics. He finished 28th in the road race. Then, he won the gold medal in the time trial. This was Slovenia's first cycling gold medal. He finished over a minute ahead of his teammate Tom Dumoulin.

Roglič at the 2021 Vuelta a España.

Roglič continued his good form into the Vuelta a España. He won the opening time trial stage. He lost the lead on stage three but got it back on stage six. On a mountain stage, he and Enric Mas dropped other riders. Roglič led Mas by 28 seconds.

He lost the race lead again after a large group of riders finished ahead of the main group. Roglič also crashed during this stage. On the next stage, Roglič won his second stage of the race. He then won stage seventeen to Lagos de Covadonga. He dropped Egan Bernal and rode alone to win the stage. Roglič extended his lead over Mas. He won another time trial on the final stage. He won his third Vuelta a España in a row by 4 minutes and 42 seconds. This was the biggest winning margin since 1997.

2022: Injury Struggles

Roglič at the 2022 Vuelta a España.

Roglič started 2022 by racing in France. He won the Paris–Nice race by 29 seconds. He also won the opening stage of the Tour of the Basque Country. But he lost the lead later due to a knee injury. He finished eighth overall. In June, he won the Critérium du Dauphiné. This was his preparation for the Tour de France.

In the Tour de France, Roglič finished eighth in the opening time trial. On stage five, he crashed into a hay bale and lost over two minutes. He dislocated his shoulder and had to put it back in place himself. He later worked as a helper for his teammate Jonas Vingegaard. Roglič then left the race before the final rest day. This was to let his injuries heal for the Vuelta a España.

Roglič started the Vuelta a España hoping to win it for the fourth time. He won stage 4 and took the red jersey. But he lost the lead to Remco Evenepoel on stage 6. On stage 16, Roglič crashed with Fred Wright. Despite the crash, he gained 8 seconds on Evenepoel. However, he had to leave the race the next day because of his injuries.

In October, Roglič received the Golden Order of Merit from Slovenia's president. This was for his "outstanding sports achievement."

2023: Giro d'Italia Victory

Roglič beat Geraint Thomas (right in the left picture) in a close battle to win the 2023 Giro d'Italia (trophy presentation pictured right).

After two years of injuries, Roglič decided to focus on the Giro d'Italia in 2023. He called it "a race I love but haven't won yet."

Roglič started his season by winning three stages and the overall title at Tirreno–Adriatico. Next, he raced the Volta a Catalunya. He won two stages and the overall title by a small margin.

In May, Roglič started the Giro d'Italia as a favorite. He had two crashes in the first week. But he was still in second place overall. On stage 16, he lost some time and slipped to third place. After strong rides in stages 18 and 19, he was back in second. He was 26 seconds behind Geraint Thomas.

On the second-to-last stage, Roglič won the stage. He gained 40 seconds on Thomas. This moved him into the overall lead. He kept the lead on the final stage into Rome. He became the first Slovenian to win the Giro d'Italia.

Roglič did not race again until August. He rode the Vuelta a Burgos. He won the overall title, the points jersey, and two stages. He then went to the Vuelta a España. He won stages 8 and 17. He finished third overall behind his teammates Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss. This was a historic moment for their team.

To end his season, Roglič raced in Italy. He announced he would leave his team at the end of the season. He then won the Giro dell'Emilia for the third time. Roglič finished his season at the Giro di Lombardia, finishing third.

On 6 October, it was confirmed that Roglič would join Bora–Hansgrohe for 2024. He would lead the team at the 2024 Tour de France.

New Team: Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe (2024–present)

2024: Record-tying Fourth Vuelta Victory

Roglič wearing the leader's jersey at the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country.

Roglič started his season at Paris–Nice. He finished 10th overall. In April, Roglič won the opening time trial at the Tour of the Basque Country. He even took a wrong turn but still won. He kept the overall lead until stage 4. A bad crash involving many riders forced him to leave the race. Roglič avoided broken bones. However, his injuries affected his training. He had to skip other races to focus on recovering for the Tour de France.

In June, Roglič was named the leader for the 2024 Tour de France. This was his team's first race under the new name, Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe. Roglič came third in the stage seven time trial. He was in fourth place overall. But he crashed on a downhill section on stage 12. He had to leave the race the next day.

Roglič's next race was the 2024 Vuelta a España. He started the race for the sixth year in a row. He won stage 4 and took the overall lead. On stage 6, he lost the red jersey to Ben O'Connor. Roglič won another stage on stage 8. He gained more time on O'Connor on later mountain stages. He got a 20-second penalty on stage 15 for drafting behind his team car. Roglič took back the overall lead on stage 19. He won the stage alone on the Alto de Moncalvillo. He defended his lead for the final two stages. He won his fourth Vuelta, tying Robert Heras's record.

It was expected that Roglič would race in the Il Lombardia. But his team decided his season had ended. He did not compete in that race.

Primož Roglič's Achievements

Major Race Results

Awards and Recognition

• Slovenian Road Cyclist of the Year: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Slovenian Sportsman of the Year: 2019, 2020
• Vélo d'Or: 2020

Images for kids

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  Roglič finished second at the 2020 Slovenian National Time Trial Championships in Pokljuka, 8.5 seconds behind UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogačar.

See also

In Spanish: Primož Roglič para niños