Primož Roglič accumulated five Grand Tour victories between 2019 and 2024, becoming the first Slovenian to win the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. A former competitive ski jumper from Trbovlje, he transitioned to professional road cycling at age 23 after retiring from winter sports, eventually rising to become the world’s top-ranked rider for 75 weeks.
Early Career in Ski Jumping
Born in 1989, Roglič began training as a ski jumper at age 10 in Zagorje ob Savi. He competed in his first FIS event in 2003 at Villach, Austria. His junior career peaked in 2007 with a team gold medal at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Planica. Following a crash on the Letalnica bratov Gorišek ski flying hill, his progress stalled; he retired in 2012 with a personal best jump of 185 metres.
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After ending his ski jumping career, Roglič studied organization and management at the University of Kranj and worked selling cleaning products. He began amateur cycling with minimal experience, eventually signing with the continental team Adria Mobil in 2013. His VO2 max of 80.2, recorded at a sports lab, confirmed his physiological potential for endurance racing. He moved to the professional WorldTour level with LottoNL–Jumbo in 2016.
Major Professional Achievements
Roglič secured his first Grand Tour success at the Vuelta a España, winning the race in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024. He added the 2023 Giro d'Italia to his tally. His 2020 season included a victory at the Liège–Bastogne–Liège monument and the prestigious Vélo d'Or award. In 2021, he won the gold medal in the individual time trial at the Olympic Games, representing Slovenia's first cycling medal.
Tour de France Performance
In 2017, Roglič became the first Slovenian to win a stage at the Tour de France, taking victory on stage 17. He achieved his highest general classification result in 2020, finishing second overall. During that race, he became the first Slovenian to wear the yellow jersey, though he ultimately conceded the lead to Tadej Pogačar.
Fast facts
- Born: 1989, Trbovlje, Slovenia
- Sport: Professional road cycling
- Former career: Ski jumping
- Giro d'Italia winner: 2023
- Vuelta a España winner: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
- Olympic gold medal: 2021, individual time trial
- Vélo d'Or winner: 2020
- Golden Order of Merit: 2021
Questions readers ask
Did Primož Roglič compete in the Olympics as a ski jumper?
No. Despite his success as a junior, he was never selected for the Slovenian Olympic ski jumping team.
How many times has Roglič won the Vuelta a España?
He has won the race four times: in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.
Achievements
- Golden Order of Merit — 2021
- Worked as sport cyclist and ski jumper
