Tour de France change of plan? Primož Roglič at team time trial training

The fact that Primož Roglič should really only have one goal in mind these days, the Tour of Spain, was previously undisputed in the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team. The Slovenian was firmly considered the captain for the Vuelta, while the 2026 Tour de France was planned without him. The surprise was all the greater when the team itself published pictures showing Roglič training for the team time trial - together with Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel, the very riders who are scheduled to take part in the Tour. The footage, which the team shared unusually openly, shows Roglič fully integrated into the formation, focussed, coordinated, as if a start in France had long been a done deal.

Primož Roglič - not the first case

The whole thing is particularly explosive in light of the team's recent communication policy. Just a few weeks ago, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe kept Remco Evenepoel's start at the Tour of Flanders a secret until the very end, a move that caused a frown in the peloton and among fans. The fact that a top rider is now unexpectedly appearing in such a special Tour training session is fuelling speculation. Especially as Primož Roglič himself has repeatedly emphasised in the past that the Tour de France has remained an unfulfilled dream for him and that he would use every opportunity to attack there once again.

Tour as an option after all?

In sporting terms, a Roglič start would not be completely outlandish either. Florian Lipowitz, the Tour bronze medallist in 2025, is seen as the team's project for the future, but the internal hierarchy has been in flux anyway since the signing of Evenepoel. Both new additions are changing the power structure and an experienced Grand Tour captain like Primož Roglič could be a decisive support in the complex structure between ambitions, expectations and team roles. He had already played an important role in the team structure in 2025 despite his own difficulties. On the other hand, Roglič is repeatedly seen refusing to support Lipowitz. There is inevitably potential for unrest with three riders in this category.

The team has not yet officially commented on the new images. However, the combination of timing, transparency and sporting logic suggests that Roglič's Vuelta focus is no longer as clear-cut as it seemed just a few weeks ago. Whether the Slovenian will actually take part in the Tour de France remains to be seen, but the likelihood has increased significantly with a single post from the team.