Primož Roglič to Lidl-Trek is a 'complete bullshit story' says Jumbo-Visma

This season's transfer merry-go-round has thrown up a number of curve balls, but none bigger than a piece on Escape Collective that suggested Primož Roglič could be on his way to Lidl-Trek for 2024.

The three-time Vuelta a España winner and current Giro d’Italia champion has a pre-existing contract with his current team, Jumbo-Visma, for 2024 and despite admiring eyes behind cast by Lidl-Trek’s management, the hierarchy at Jumbo-Visma have no intention of letting such a prized asset go.

“There has been zero discussion. So I think it’s a complete bullshit story,” Jumbo-Visma directeur sportif Merjin Zeeman told GCN on Friday.

“Of course we wouldn't let him go. We’re building a team for the long term and that’s the strategy. We want to make sure that these guys are under long-term contracts and we don’t give that away. Plus I saw the report and I think what his manager said is that Primož is also very happy with the team. So I think that from both sides we are committed to each other.”

Jumbo-Visma has a glut of stage racing talent on their roster, including the two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard. Both Roglič and Vingegaard are set to lead the team at the Vuelta a España which starts this weekend, and the report on Escape Collective indicated that Roglič might need to leave his current stable if he had desires to lead a team at the Tour de France next season.

Read more: "It’s not really necessary now to say whether it is me or Jonas in front" - Primož Roglič

According to Zeeman, the discussions over Grand Tour leadership are routine with the team, and a solution for 2024 and beyond would be found over the winter months as the team looks towards next year.

“It would be the same as when I’m leading the team discussions, and that’s to approach cycling as a team sport,” Zeeman said. “We include personal ambitions in there too and we always try to create a plan that reaches team goals. We just continue with that approach and we’ll continue with that over the coming years.”

GCN also reached out to team boss Richard Plugge. His response was similarly emphatic.

"Primož is our king from 2016 onwards," he said in a text message.

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