Roglič withdraws from Tour de France after crash in 12th stage
Pau, 12 July - Slovenian cycling star Primož Roglič is out of the Tour de France after suffering a nasty crash during the 12th stage of the race from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot on Thursday. Roglič has dropped almost five minutes behind the overall leader, his compatriot Tadej Pogačar, losing more than two minutes in yesterday's stage alone.
Ljubljana
Slovenian cycling star Primož Roglič.
Photo: Primož Roglič's X account.
File photo
The racer of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team crashed some 12 kilometres before the finish line, falling on his right shoulder, which appeared to be heavily scratched and bloody.
Although the 34-year-old continued the stage and reached the finish line of the 163.5-km stage with the help of his team-mates, he lost 2 minutes and 27 seconds in the general classification and dropped to the sixth place overall.
Roglič is now four minutes and 42 seconds behind the overall leader, his compatriot Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who has an advantage of one minute and six seconds ahead of Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step).
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe said on Friday that "Roglič underwent careful examination by our medical team after yesterday's stage and again this morning. The decision has been taken that he will not start today, to focus on upcoming goals."
The crash was not Roglič's fault, as it happened on a poorly marked section of the road, after Kazakh rider Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team) fell on the ground and slid to the other side of the road.
A group of riders, including Roglič, could not avoid Lutsenko, and suffered a mass crash, which was not the first for the Slovenian at this year's Tour de France. He also crashed during Wednesday's mountain stage from Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran.