Primož Roglič ‘received a huge offer beyond all expectations’ says WorldTour boss

Several team bosses believe the Slovenian has agreed to leave Jumbo-Visma

08:22, Saturday 30th September 2023

Daniel Benson

Editor in Chief

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Primož Roglič finished on the podium of this year's Vuelta a España, but will be looking for race leadership away from the all-conquering Jumbo-Visma squad

The rumours and speculation surrounding the future of Primož Roglič continue apace with several sources now informing GCN that the four-time Grand Tour winner has signed a multiple-year contract that will take him away from Jumbo-Visma in 2024. This news came just moments before Roglič himself confirmed he will be leaving Jumbo-Visma at the end of 2023.

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According to one team boss, the Slovenian is in line for a three-year deal and a salary of over €6 million per season including bonuses. Such a contract would put Roglič close to the best-paid rider in the world, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).

Both Roglič and his current team have remained silent on the matter since the conclusion of the Vuelta a España, while the likes of Ineos Grenadiers, Bora-Hansgrohe, Lidl-Trek, Bahrain Victorious, Israel-Premier Tech and Movistar Team have all been linked with the Slovenian.

The rider’s agent has not commented publicly on Roglič’s situation, the likelihood of leaving Jumbo-Visma or the reported buyout fees any team would need to pay Jumbo-Visma but it’s understood that Jumbo have sanctioned the idea of losing a rider they described as their ‘king’ just a few weeks ago.

Roglič still has a year remaining on his Jumbo-Visma deal and the team were reticent to allow him to depart earlier this summer but after a fractious Vuelta, and following the news of a possible merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step, a move away from the Dutch team looks on the cards.

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On Friday, Movistar Team told GCN that despite several reports indicating that Roglič was on his way to the Spanish team, and the fact that interest had been shown in the rider, no contract offer was ever made for the 2023 Giro d’Italia winner. Lidl-Trek, according to reports and sources close to the team, are also out of the running after deciding not to match the offer Roglič has apparently agreed to take.

Bahrain Victorious, another team that has linked to the rider, have stated that they too have not signed the rider at this point, while Ineos Grenadiers have remained completely silent, despite repeated links to Roglič. Israel Premier Tech, another late team linked to Roglič, and who currently have 29 riders signed for next season only told GCN: “ We won’t comment on riders already signed to other teams.”

The pressing fact is that only a few teams could manage to finance such a move for Roglič, especially so late in the year, when the majority of team budgets have already been set and rosters aligned. To afford Roglič, teams would either need to seek a significant injection of cash from their owners, or have major gaps within their rosters at this stage in the year.

It’s unclear where Roglič is going, and with each passing day a new option has circulated through the media but one team boss with a strong knowledge of the situation has told GCN that he expects Roglič to have agreed terms already with a WorldTour team.

“He has received a huge offer beyond all expectations, probably getting close to Pogačar,” the team boss told GCN.

With Tadej Pogačar the best-paid rider in the world on a reported salary of over €6.3 million per season, Roglič is certainly set for a bumper contract, with a team boss indicating that the deal is believed to be for three years and over €6 million per season.

Roglič’s camp have remained silent on the matter, with his representative indicating to GCN just a few days ago that the rider would only decide his future after Il Lombardia during the first weekend of October. The reality is that until Roglič officially makes his decision public he is still, first and foremost a Jumbo-Visma rider.

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