Wheel-sucker Roglic still has a Vuelta a España to win with 32.1 kilometers and a revived domestique

We haven’t seen Primož Roglič launch a single real attack in the 12 days of the Vuelta a España, but by following, drafting, and hanging on, the seasoned Slovenian rider from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe still has a chance to win the race. His gap to Enric Mas in the general classification did widen significantly in Stage 12, but at Red Bull, they’re hoping for a strong comeback from their team leader.

Roglic started this Vuelta as an underdog—nothing more than that. With perfect preparation, he might have been among the top favorites for the podium, but the four-time Vuelta overall winner was hit by a car during training in the weeks leading up to the start and was barely ready in time to start in Monaco.

In the first week, we didn’t see Roglic at his very best, but it was more than good enough to compete with the others behind an unstoppable Tadej Pogacar. Toward the end of the first week, the Slovenian improved, and he continued that momentum into the second week. In Stage 12, he crossed the finish line alongside Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), 27 seconds behind Mas.

Roglic now trails the Spaniard from Movistar by 1.46 minutes in the general classification, but with a 32.1-kilometer time trial on Day 18, there’s still plenty to gain. “Roglic can win this Vuelta; he’s performing better than expected,” team manager Patxi Vila told the Spanish media ahead of Stage 12.

It wouldn’t be the first time Roglic has taken control of the Vuelta toward the end of the second week and into the third. According to Vila, that’s certainly possible, given that his preparation wasn’t “perfect.” “He was out of action for five weeks, so his form was a big question mark for us. It’s looking good right now.”

"We're in the fight, though I don't know how far we can go," said Vila, before Roglic would lose another half a minute to Mas. "We're going to fight all the way to Granada. The time trial suits Roglic well.” As a former team director for Movistar, Vila knows his rival Mas well. “I’m pleased with his performance—for him and for Movistar. He’s strong and races with maturity. With Pogacar out, the Vuelta is more open and more exciting.”

Still, Vila will have to come up with a plan to help Roglic overtake his former protégé in the general classification. A podium finish in the Vuelta won’t be enough to define Roglic’s career anymore. “Both Mas and Roglic have had physical issues this season, but that has allowed them to get more rest.”

Before the 12th stage, Roglic himself said that he’s happy with his form, but that, given his preparation, he hadn’t expected to be in contention for the podium. The Slovenian is keeping the pressure off and seems satisfied with a podium finish in Granada. It didn’t help that his Red Bull domestiques weren’t making any headway in the first week.

Luke Tuckwell managed to shake off that slump and was part of the breakaway in Stage 12. That allowed him to do some work for Roglic in the final stretch of the stage. “I crashed in Stage 8, and the first 11 days were tough for me,” the Brit told Eurosport. “My legs aren’t at all what I’d hoped for, and my knee was giving me a lot of trouble. But the worst seems to be behind me.”

Tuckwell also knows that a good domestique for Roglic can make all the difference. “We wanted someone in the breakaway, if it was big enough. I felt good and knew I could be useful this way. I can be proud that I was still able to help Primoz in the final stretch.”