courage, Primoz Roglic wins the 2024 edition by eight seconds, the 8th stage for Carlos Rodriguez

Attacked by his dolphins on the last climb, the Slovenian from BORA-Hansgrohe gleaned his second Dauphiné after that of 2022, on Sunday.

He came close to a new disillusionment. Primoz Roglic won the Critérium du Dauphiné by saving his yellow jersey for a handful of seconds, eight precisely, over Matteo Jorgenson, Sunday June 9, at the top of the Plateau des Glières. Isolated when his teammate Aleksandr Vlasov was released, the Slovenian was unable to follow when Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers), winner of the 8th stage ahead of the American Visma Lease a Bike, attacked five kilometers from the summit after undermining work by his lieutenant Laurens De Plus.

The day was summed up by a long breakaway around an insatiable Marc Soler, the day after a flight resumed in the last kilometers of the 7th stage, but also by David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ). The group of 11 riders was up to more than three minutes ahead of the peloton, but was inexorably caught back, notably by the pace of the BORA-hansgrohe formation. This is where the Slovenian, alone, was dropped by an attack from Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos), quickly accompanied by Matteo Jorgenson, his runner-up in the general standings.

Launched into a hellish time trial so as not to give up too much time to the American, Primoz Roglic struggled. Already crowned in the 2022 edition, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic kept his tunic for eight seconds over Jorgenson, while he had a 1’02 lead overall over him this morning.

He crossed the finish line 48″ behind the day’s winner. “I didn’t expect that. It was tense but I managed to preserve my advantage”he commented, visibly relieved.

He thus won the Dauphiné for the second time in his career, his first success with his new formation from BORA-hansgrohe. This bodes well for him three weeks before the start of the Tour de France, despite this scare on the last climb.