Primož Roglič loses time as he suffers through hectic Tour de France stage seven
The Slovenian is still hurting from his stage three crash
Primož Roglič lost more time on stage seven of the 2021 Tour de France, making his continued GC challenge an evermore unlikely prospect.
Last year's runner-up has been suffering since his stage three crash, saying before the start of stage seven that he was still in a lot of back pain, with his tailbone also still causing him discomfort after he landed hard on the tarmac earlier this week.
Roglič was distanced towards the end of the 249km-long stage, losing nearly four minutes to the peloton containing most of his GC rivals.
He is now more than five minutes in arrears to defending champion Tadej Pogačar.
The Jumbo-Visma leader was distanced on the steep section of the final category two climb of the day, the Signal d'Uchon. No team-mates waited for him as he eventually crossed the line with only Simon Geschke (Cofidis) and Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic) for company.
That could signal a change of plan for Jumbo-Visma, who have the young Danish revelation Jonas Vingegaard waiting in the wings and in 11th place overall currently, less than two minutes behind Pogačar.
It was a day of highs, lows and stress for Slovenia, as Bahrain-Victorious' Matej Mohorič won the stage and Tadej Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates were forced to chase a large chase group peeling away up the road, throwing down an early gauntlet after last year's winner showed imperious form in the stage five time trial.
This weekend, before Monday's first rest day, two Alpine challenges present themselves, and will be doubly hard after today's challenge.
More to follow...
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
'Usually I am the oldest but I try to hang in with the youngsters as much as possible': 68-year-old ex-Rugby player on racing with a new knee
A string of knee ops hasn't stopped Chris Dunn from pinning on a number
By Hannah Reynolds Published
-
'There is no curse on her jersey,' says SD Worx on Lotte Kopecky's second place at Trofeo Alfredo Binda
Lotte Kopecky comments on her second place result after her last-minute call up to Trofeo Alfredo Binda
By Emma Magnus Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'We were lucky with the weather': Brandon McNulty admits rain helped UAE Emirates edge Paris-Nice stage three team time trial
American pulled on the yellow jersey after a rain soaked finale to stage three in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson, Visma-Lease a Bike’s new star, continues to impress at Paris-Nice
The American could step into the leaders yellow jersey on Tuesday evening after stage three’s team time trial in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'He’s making history': Paris-Nice reacts to Strade Bianche masterclass from Tadej Pogačar
'He can still surprise us all the time’ João Almeida on Pogačar's performance in Tuscany
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'You have to be open to everything' - Primož Roglič ahead of his Bora-Hansgrohe debut at Paris-Nice
Roglič up against Remco Evenepoel for the first time in 2024 as he gets set for a return to the Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Primož Roglič’s debut and an explosive Jonas Vingegaard: Seven things to look out for at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico
The two stage races should provide plenty of narratives next week
By Tom Thewlis Published