The stakes are high for Primož Roglič in this year’s Vuelta a España . The Slovenian arrives at the race after fracturing his back in a crash at the Tour de France, and the pain from his heavy fall in July still lingers. Purely in terms of records, a fourth overall victory would put the 34-year-old on a level footing with the most successful ever Vuelta rider Roberto Heras , who won his home Grand Tour in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
However, Grand Tour success rarely comes easily to Roglič, and a triumph in the 2024 Vuelta would be no exception to that rule. No one doubts the former ski jumper’s huge talent on two wheels. But there are plenty of question marks surrounding the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe leader’s ability to perform at his maximum following his Tour injury .
Yet at least until events on the road prove otherwise - and Saturday’s opening time trial will provide the first real clue regarding his condition - Roglič remains the key reference point for all the Vuelta contenders for now. With that in mind, Cyclingnews has run the rule over Roglič’s pathway to being the most successful Vuelta a Esapaña rider in the current peloton - and why, after Roglič’s victories in Spain in 2019, 2020 and 2021, Tadej Pogačar might not be the only Slovenian making Grand Tour history in 2024. Primoz Roglič during the 2024 Vuelta a España team presentation (Image credit: Getty Images) 2019: A breakthrough win When Cyclingnews interviewed Primoz Roglič a .