Prior to the initiation of the Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday, a disclosure was made by Roglič regarding his decision to leave Jumbo-Visma subsequent to the current season. It is surmised that Ineos and Bora-Hansgrohe are his probable future teams.
Despite having a contractual commitment with Jumbo-Visma till the conclusion of 2024, and prior refutation by Plugge of any shift, he reaffirmed Roglič’s upcoming departure from the team post an eight-season tenure, which included triumphs in the Vuelta a España (three times) and a comprehensive victory in this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Plugge, in a formal proclamation by Jumbo-Visma, articulated: “Primož will always be in my heart as our king. We are very grateful to him for finding the way to the top together. I will always admire him on a personal level.” He continued, acknowledging the necessity for separation, “But there comes a time when it is best to part ways. Recently, he asked for a transfer. We understood his request, and we have too much respect for each other to stand in each other’s way. We gave him the green light, just like we did with Dylan Groenewegen.”
Groenewegen, akin to Roglič, also left Jumbo-Visma prior to his contract conclusion, aligning with Jayco in anticipation of the 2022 season.
Post his Giro victory this year, Roglič did not participate in the Tour de France. Jumbo-Visma elected to assign exclusive leadership to Jonas Vingegaard, who retained his title in Paris. The emergence of Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss and potential addition of Remco Evenepoel in a speculated merger with Soudal-QuickStep have evidently accentuated the internal rivalry.
In relation to the proposed merger, Patrick Lefevere, the Soudal-QuickStep manager, hinted at forthcoming details by Monday. Concurrently, Roglič has refrained from disclosing his future team alignment until the completion of his season at Il Lombardia the succeeding weekend. Roglič mentioned, “I can just definitely confirm that I will leave the team, but we want to tell all the details to where after the races that I do.” His statement was made at the beginning of the Giro dell’Emilia, a race he clinched victory in, surpassing fellow countryman Tadej Pogačar.
