Primoz Roglic has withdrawn from the Clasica San Sebastian after being struck by a car during a training ride, forcing a last-minute change of plans for one of cycling’s most prominent one-day contenders.
The Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe climber had been set to start the 45th edition of the race in the Basque Country on Saturday, less than a week after the end of the 2026 Tour de France. Instead, he is sidelined after a collision with a car in the days before the event.
Roglic shared images on Instagram showing significant damage to his right leg. He said he had been hit by a car a few days earlier and acknowledged it was not the best scenario, but said that is how life goes.
The withdrawal is a blow to his team and also complicates matters for Remco Evenepoel, the heavy favorite for the Clasica, who had been expected to count on Roglic as a key ally. Evenepoel will now have to race without him.
In addition to the Clasica, the 36-year-old will also miss the Tour de Burgos, scheduled for August 4 to 8, 2026. With both races off his calendar, Roglic can now direct his attention toward his primary objective of the season: the 2026 Vuelta a Espana.
The Slovenian has won the Vuelta four times, in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024, making him the record holder for victories in the race alongside Roberto Heras. A fifth title would give him sole possession of that record. To get there, he will likely have to get past Tadej Pogacar, who has been strongly linked with a debut at the Tour of Spain.
Roglic is also the 2020 Olympic time trial champion.
