Roglič knows the time trial won't be enough: 'I'm in the perfect situation'

With one week to go, Enric Mas still holds a commanding lead in the Vuelta a España. While Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) is in second place, most people still view Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) as his biggest rival. A time trial is coming up, but will he be able to make up enough time there to take the red jersey?

Roglic has already won the Vuelta four times, while Mas and Gall have never won a Grand Tour. The Slovenian doesn’t want to name a top rival. “I have to find my own way,” he told Marca on the rest day. “Ultimately, I don’t fight for the win that often. I think they’re fighting for their first victories. It’s a different situation. We’ll see what opportunities the race offers. I’m satisfied with how things have gone so far.”

With the time trial on Stage 18 in mind, many people are hoping that Roglic can still make the Vuelta exciting. But does the specialist think those 32 kilometers against the clock will be enough to take the red jersey? “I don’t think so. My competitors are riding very fast, and I’m losing time. Every second I can gain before the time trial is valuable. There isn’t much time left—and yet, in a way, there is.”

Trailing red-shirt wearer Mas by 2.10 minutes, it will indeed be difficult to take the lead. Yet Roglic offers some surprising words. “I’m in the perfect situation. Where I am right now is exactly right for me. I accept it—that’s just the way it is. That doesn’t mean I won’t do everything I can or try everything in my power. We’ll see what that means compared to the others.”

Roglic (who has already beaten the Spaniard four times in Spain) hadn’t expected Mas to be riding so dominantly in the red jersey right now. “I’d love to be just as good as he is, but I know how I got into the Vuelta and how I’ve approached it. Because of my rehabilitation and training, I’m not in peak form yet, but I am at a good level. I’m very happy. This is probably my best form of the season.”

Whether that level of form will be enough for his fifth overall victory in the Vuelta remains to be seen. But the time trial doesn’t seem to be enough. Will the Slovenian come up with a strategy and try to pull off a surprise with a long attack? “That’s hard to say. If you have the legs, of course, why not? If you don’t, it’s hard to do anything. Even to move. I’m optimistic about the upcoming stages.”