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Perhaps the biggest question in the cycling world was answered on Thursday when it was revealed that Primoz Roglic would sign with German team Bora-Hansgrohe.
Roglic, 33, is one of if not the biggest star in the cycling world.
He’s won four grand tours, including the 2023 Giro d’Italia, and is the reigning Olympic champion in the individual time trial.
But the emergence of Danish star Jonas Vingegaard, the winner of last two Tour de France crowns, has led to controversy.
Vingegaard and Roglic are teammates on the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma, which won all three grand tours this year, the last coming with American Sepp Kuss in September’s Vuelta a Espana.
Vingegaard’s presence in the team has led to drama between the two as both fight for supremacy.
Roglic was at the team first, and led Jumbo-Visma to its first ever grand tour victory at the 2019 Vuelta a Espana.
The following season, he entered the Tour de France as the race’s overwhelming favorite. And for much of the race, it appeared that distinction was deserved.
Roglic led the race for 12 days. But on the penultimate stage, disaster struck.
Roglic struggled in a time trial up the famed Planche des Belles Filles. That allowed countrymen Tadej Pogacar to swoop in and steal the race victory on the final competitive stage.
The following year, Roglic crashed early in the Tour de France and abandoned the race. That led to the emergence of Vingegaard, who took second behind Pogacar.
Things continued to turn in Vingegaard’s favor in 2022. Roglic yet again crashed early in the race. He remained with the team long enough to help Vingegaard take the leader’s yellow jersey from Pogacar. But he later left the race as Vingegaard went on to win.
This year, the dynamic duo split races.
Roglic raced in and one the Giro d’Italia. While Vingegaard dominated the Tour de France. In the final grand tour, it was Kuss who took a surprising early lead. But both Roglic and Vingegaard battled for much of the race to assert their dominance.
That led to speculation that Roglic could lead the team in search of a solo leadership role at the Tour de France in 2023.
Roglic confirmed that rumor in recent days, but did not say where he would sign.
We received an answer on Thursday.
Daniel Benson of Global Cycling Network reports that the superstar has signed a two-year deal at Bora-Hansgrohe, with an announcement set for the coming days.
Bora, like Jumbo-Visma, picked up its first ever grand tour victory in recent years when Australian Jai Hindley won the 2022 Giro d’Italia.
While Hindley is a star, Roglic immediately becomes the unquestionable team leader.
And the 2024 Tour de France just got much, much spicier.