The four-time winner of the Spanish race will not be the only card to play for the German team, which is also banking heavily on Fisher-Black and Meeus for stage victories
Primož Roglič , four-time winner of the Vuelta a España, will have his ambitions for the general classification overshadowed by his pursuit of stage victories. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe made this clear when announcing their lineup for the next Spanish stage race, in a statement that almost sounds like a declaration of cautious realism.
Rather than throwing all their cards into the pursuit of a fifth red jersey for the Slovenian, the German team has decided to focus on New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black and Belgian Jordi Meeus , hoping at least one of them can take home a stage win. This is a strategy that fantasy cycling fans should keep in mind: spreading their budget across these two names, rather than betting everything on a doubtful Roglič, could prove to be the wisest choice.
Roglič, who won the red jersey four times between 2019 and 2024, shares the overall record with Roberto Heras, but his hopes of a fifth title were severely damaged after he was hit by a car during training last month. Rather than directly support his bid for a fifth title, Red Bull has chosen to evaluate him stage by stage, a cautious approach that should give pause to those betting on the Slovenian as a whole.
The Slovenian's preparation for the Spanish Grand Tour has been far from ideal: the 39-year-old was forced to miss the Clásica San Sebastián and the Vuelta a Burgos due to his training crash. This means he hasn't raced since winning the national time trial title in Slovenia, his only victory of the season so far. This is a significant warning sign for those who consider him a top contender in fantasy cycling.
Now one of the peloton's veterans, Roglič boasts a stellar list of victories that includes, in addition to the four Vueltas, the 2023 Giro d'Italia and numerous one-week stage races. However, he appears to be in the autumn of his career, and his future in cycling beyond 2027 remains uncertain, with persistent rumors of a possible move to Lotto-Intermarché.
"The team will support Roglič in his general classification ambitions, although these will need to be evaluated progressively, after his preparation for the Vuelta was compromised by the recent accident. Stage victories are the other central objective," the official statement reads.
"I have a very positive history with the Vuelta and always enjoy racing it," Roglič said in the team's press release. "Winning it four times is something I could never have imagined, so I don't want to put any more pressure on myself. We'll take it day by day, do everything we can as a team, and try to get the best possible result. I can't wait to race."
Tactical analysis for Fantacycling: Fisher-Black is competing in his third Vuelta and will look for opportunities in the more challenging stages, those with slightly uphill finishes or undulating routes where he can exploit his versatility. Jordi Meeus, on the other hand, will be the point man in the sprint stages, even though he will have to contend with top-level opponents like Matthew Brennan and Wout van Aert . The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe roster also includes Grand Tour debutants Luke Tuckwell and Callum Thornley , whose inexperience will be balanced by the presence of seasoned veterans like Gianni Vermeersch and Gianni Moscon . Rounding out the squad is Denmark's Frederik Wandahl .
"Our main goal is to win a stage, and hopefully more than one if the opportunities arise," said the team's sports director, Sven Vantourenhout .
"Our second main goal is the general classification with Primož, but we have to be realistic because his preparation has been very different from what we originally expected after the crash. We'll evaluate the situation step by step. We'll support him to achieve the best possible result in the standings, but we also have to be ready to adapt if necessary."
The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe lineup for the Vuelta a España 2026: Primož Roglič, Jordi Meeus, Gianni Moscon, Frederik Wandahl, Finn Fisher-Black, Luke Tuckwell, Callum Thornley, Gianni Vermeersch.
A word of advice for fantasy managers: given the uncertainty surrounding Roglič's condition, it's best not to rely solely on the Slovenian for the general classification. Keep an eye on Fisher-Black for the medium-mountain stages and Meeus for the sprint finishes, but remember that the competition in both scenarios will be fierce. A diversified strategy seems the most prudent choice for this Vuelta a España.
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
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