‘Primož Roglič will be a strong competitor in the coming years’ says Jumbo-Visma sports director

Sports director Merijn Zeeman has acknowledged that allowing Primož Roglič to leave Jumbo-Visma and sign for rivals Bora Hansgrohe has created a major competitor for the coming years.

Roglič was allowed to break his contract with Jumbo-Visma two years before it expired and join the German team on a two-year deal starting in 2024. The Slovenian won four Grand Tour titles with Jumbo-Visma since joining their ranks in 2016, and will spearhead Bora’s Tour de France challenge next season. 

Read more: Bora-Hansgrohe confirm arrival of 'inspirational' Primož Roglič

Roglič was unlikely to receive a leadership role within Jumbo-Visma at the 2024 Tour de France, especially with two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard within the team’s ranks.

At the Vuelta a España this summer the team’s authority struggled to keep their leaders under control as both Roglič and Vingegaard set about attacking teammate and eventual race leader Sepp Kuss. A transfer to Bora does at least simplify leadership questions at Jumbo-Visma for next season, even if it does provide a rival team with the means to challenge the Dutch squad’s Tour authority.

“Primož has indicated that he wants something different in the years he still has ahead of him as a cyclist. He wants to make the step to a team that rides for him,” Zeeman told Het Nieuwsblad.

“Primož is very honest and open about this. We understand and respect that, which is why we cooperated in his transfer. But we will always miss such a good rider. We are eternally grateful to him for what he has done for us. Primož will always remain one with a yellow-black heart. It is true that we will have a large and strong competitor in the coming years.”

The last few weeks have also been dominated by the merger discussions between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step. Those plans have fallen apart in the last fortnight but Zeeman reassured Het Nieuwsblad that his team’s finances and sponsorship was well placed for the coming years.

Jumbo are set to step back at the end of 2024 and end their financial commitment to the team, but Zeeman indicated that a new sponsor was close to being confirmed.

“It is true that we spoke with Soudal Quick-Step, but that was more exploratory. We also sat down with Remco Evenepoel, but it was also exploratory with him. What suits our team best, what ambitions, how realistic is it, the advantages and disadvantages, does it make us better or not? This has been investigated by a number of people. We have constantly informed everyone within the team about the state of affairs throughout this process,” he said.

“We want to continue making history over the next ten years and I can say that after the wonderful time with Jumbo, we are entering a new chapter. Richard (team boss Plugge, ed.) and Sander Kruis (commercial manager, ed.) have worked hard and a number of very nice companies have committed to this team.

"I must also mention Robert van der Wallen (commissioner and one of the founders, ed.). We cannot continue without these three men, but it is now certain that we can continue to build on this team in the coming years. Am I saying that the future is assured? Yes absolutely, although I can't go into details.”

Read more:

• Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step merger reportedly cancelled