Primoz Roglic described his second-place finish at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana as a personal victory.
The 36-year-old Slovenian crossed the line in Granada 2 minutes and 15 seconds behind Mas after three weeks of racing. It marked his sixth podium at the Spanish Grand Tour.
“The fact of finishing second was hard to imagine a few weeks ago,” Roglic said at the final press conference. “This result is a victory for me. I’m happy with the day-by-day evolution. Enric Mas was the strongest and deserves this win.”
He arrived at the start in Monaco with severely limited preparation after being hit by a car during altitude training. The injury left him unable to train properly for weeks; at one point, even putting on socks was a struggle. Despite that, he steadily improved and fought for the red jersey until the final mountain stages.
Looking ahead, the four-time Vuelta champion said he would take decisions about his future step by step. His contract with the team is ending, but he left the door open.
“I have to face the decisions about my career one step at a time. I want to enjoy the World Championships in Canada – it will be my first time in the country – and then I’ll go to Slovenia. After that, I’ll see what the future holds. Right now I have racing intensity in my legs. I’ll give my best and see where it takes me.”
Asked whether he would return to the Vuelta next year, he replied: “Maybe. But I don’t know in what condition or role. Maybe only as a spectator. We’ll see. I’ve just finished the Vuelta and now I mainly want to enjoy the Worlds. There’s still a year until the next Vuelta.”