Primoz Roglic ready to do battle in fourth straight La Vuelta Victory

Defending Vuelta a Espana champion Primoz Roglic confirmed in Jumbo-Visma's team for the Spanish Grand Tour starts this Friday, after Tour de France crash

Roglic started the Tour de France as join leader in July but was injured in a fall on the cobbled roads of northern France and eventually pulled out before stage 15.

Jumbo feared Roglic would also miss the Vuelta but on Monday sports director Merijn Zeeman named Roglic in their eight-man team, "We are delighted that Primoz can start in the Vuelta after his serious injury in the Tour de France"

Roglic won the Vuelta in 2019, 2020 and 2021, winning nine individual stages along the way.

"He didn't have the best preparation, but we greatly respect him for how he managed to get ready" Zeeman said.

"We have a good and balanced team at the start that can optimally support Primoz in all areas."

Jumbo also selected American climber Sepp Kuss and the two-time world champion time-triallist Rohan Dennis of Australia.

Kuss finished in the Vuelta top-10 last year and shepherded Roglic to his third straight title. Jumbo-Visma's best domestique has been training heavily in the Andorran mountains prepping for his fifth-straight Vuelta participation.

"The Dutch start makes it very special for us," added Zeeman. "We look forward to showing ourselves in front of our own audience from Friday."

Roglic was injured in a spectacular fall on the cobbles during the Tour de France causing Tadej Pogacar's spectacular meltdown on the Col du Granon in the Alps that led to Jumbo Visma's Jonas Vingegaard winning the title.

Roglic's main rivals in his battle to win his fourth title include Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) fresh from winning Giro d'Italia in May, looking to do a Grand Tour Double, and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers). Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) is likely to focus on stage wins.

The 77th Vuelta a Espana starts with three days in Jumbo's home nation of the Netherlands this Friday August 19th in Utrecht with a team time trial.