Never Stop believing!

Adria world class partner, top cyclist Primož Roglič reflects on an eventful season.

Roglič, from Slovenia, has been number one ranked road cyclist on the UCI World Ranking for the past year and rides for Team Jumbo-Visma. The 2020 season proved to be his most successful and dramatic in an incredible cycling career so far, since he switched from ski jumping to two wheels. 2020 season included some incredible moments.

So close at the Tour de France

The 2020 Tour de France started in Nice on 29th August, for 22 teams and 176 riders, with the last stage in Paris, along the Champs Elysees on Sunday 20th September, covering 3,484 kilometers. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) also from Slovenia, won a dramatic shoot out with fellow countryman, Primož, to became the Tour’s youngest winner for 111 years. Roglič held the yellow jersey for 13 days but was overhauled by Pogačar in a dramatic final stage. For Adria Mobil’s home country of Slovenia, this was a remarkable triumph, having two fellow nationals racing head-to-head in the world’s most coveted road cycling race.

Winning at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

"Two weeks later Primož, was back at it, in Liege. This race was decided in an extraordinary five-man sprint to the finishing line, with Roglič pipping Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe in the closest of photo-finishes, some respected cycling observers called the ‘’closest photo finish of all time."

Crowned champion again in Spain.

La Vuelta 2020, 2,892 kms over 18 stages from 10th October, finishing in Madrid on 11th November. Roglič, was imperious in an epic race, leading from the front. Showing grit and determination the finale came down to a solo battle with Richard Carapaz of Ecuadora on the penultimate hill stage. On the final day into Madrid, he clinched the title, with the narrowest winning margin since 1984.

The year 2020 was exceptional in many ways, but also extremely successful for you, as you started the season with a victory and finished it as the leading rider in the UCI rankings. Sincere congratulations again and please share with us, what were your feelings on this extraordinary achievement?

Of course, I am very satisfied and proud, but at the same time I remain hungry for more - I always want to improve and face the challenge that is the biggest and most difficult, that is how to be and also remain the best. My training and preparation process is also adapted to this, so that I can fight for this position again.

Despite the extraordinary achievements, results and laurels won, you always seem realistic and with your feet on the ground. How do you do that?

Simply by staying who you are; you start each day anew in a way that you stay true to yourself and at the same time that you don’t forget where you come from and also how you got here. These things seem very important to me, because along with all the preparations and competitions, there is also a lot of parallel happening and in this way, I stay focused on the competitive rhythm throughout the season.

Winning the Golden Wheel 2020

The season ended on a high when Primož, won the prestigious Golden Wheel award by French Velo Magazine, awarded by sports journalists from all over the world.

Despite the fact that only one cyclist raises his hands at the finish line, we know that cycling is a distinctly team sport, where without the right energy and cooperation within the team, one cannot count on a top result. How did you and your team prepare for the new season during this period, are you satisfied with the work done?

The biggest emphasis was on the fact that despite individual training, we still remained a team; this means that we were in constant contact, despite the fact that we trained at home, that we encouraged, motivated, supported each other throughout the entire period and the process of preparation, and at the same time always worked hard, so it’s nice to see that we have gone through this period successfully. The support and trust of our sponsors and fans also meant a lot to us.

Who or what do you think about most often during demanding preparations and competitions, what inspires you when it is most difficult?

Above all, you have to stay true to yourself, do the things you love to do, and keep looking for ways to do it even better. Of course, here the family is my biggest encouragement and support that I have and it gives me extra strength to come to every race as ready and motivated as possible.

Please share with us what the possibility of using a motorhome during preparations and competitions means to you and your family?

In the end, there is always the realization that time is the most important value, and the time you spend with loved ones is even more so. Despite the work rhythm, the motorhome always means some form of free time, so the time we spend in this way is valuable to me, because we always have a very nice time.

Interview conducted in March 2021, you can follow Primož in the 21-2 season
at www.primozroglic.com and at www.adria-mobil.com

Primoz Roglic, 2021 Olympic Gold Medal Winner,
Men’s Road Cycling Individual Time Trial.