Roglič surprised even himself with a new experience at the World Championships: 'Maybe I'm just not used to it'

With Tadej Pogačar’s withdrawal, Slovenia obviously had to swallow a very bitter pill, but that would open up opportunities for Roglič. The experienced rider seized that opportunity with both hands, as he moved to the front very early on and even single-handedly closed the gap to Mathieu van der Poel and company.

In the grueling final stretch, the lights went out after all, forcing Roglič to settle for 21st place in the stage results. “Maybe sometimes we focus too much on the goal itself and lose our way along the way,” the Slovenian began his story in his characteristic manner after the race. “It went great as long as I had the strength; I was right where I needed to be.”

"In the end, I ran out of steam a bit. Still, I have nothing to blame myself for. I’m happy with my performance," Siol reported, citing RTV Slovenia. Because, as Roglic noted: “Maybe I’m not really used to all these riders or to riding in the breakaway. I even surprised myself. Of course, I would have liked it to have been a battle for the medals, but the race ultimately turned out differently.”

The fact that the veteran managed to get into the lead at all is quite an achievement, considering he had to drop back several times in the opening stages. “The uphill sections suited me better; they were easier for me than for the others. The pace was pretty high. Riding these laps feels like a time trial. Once you’re in that whirlwind, you just stay in it.”

So it’s actually very simple: “I gave it everything I had.” By his own account, Roglic soon paid the price for that. “You’re constantly on the verge of cramping because you’re completely drained, and yet you want to reach the finish line while balancing on that edge. Sometimes the fear of cramps sets in, because that makes finishing the race a lot harder. I fought my way through all the difficulties and finished the race.”

Of course, the question always remains with Roglic, who will soon turn 37: what’s next? “For now, I just want to find a shower and catch my breath; we’ll see what happens after that,” he concluded in his characteristic manner.