Primoz Roglic left the press room glowing with excitement, surprising everyone with the raw joy in his voice as he spoke about unity, trust, and a renewed spirit few expected this season.
He admitted the emotional shift felt almost unreal, explaining how months of uncertainty transformed into a sudden wave of confidence sparked by Evenepoel’s unexpected camaraderie, turning tension into an unbreakable alliance on and off the road.
Roglic laughed when describing the moment he realized pressure had vanished, noting everything felt lighter once Evenepoel joined his side with openness, humility, and a shared hunger to rewrite their season’s story completely.
The Slovenian star emphasized that differences between them only strengthened their partnership, creating a dynamic where contrast produced balance, rhythm produced focus, and mutual respect produced a chemistry impossible to manufacture through strategy alone.
In the UAE team environment, Roglic quickly noticed how Evenepoel and Lipowitz embraced leadership while offering support, creating a structure where his own strengths flowed naturally without the weight of expectation dominating every conversation.
He stated the Tour de France preparation became more enjoyable than ever, describing mornings filled with laughter, afternoons filled with synchronized training, and evenings spent discussing tactics with surprising honesty and refreshing clarity.
Roglic highlighted Evenepoel’s genuine kindness, speaking about how competitive fire never overshadowed the Belgian’s generosity, turning intense training sessions into moments of learning, growth, and uplifting motivation that pushed everyone forward together.
He mentioned how Evenepoel’s discipline inspired the whole team, recalling rides where Remco set relentless tempo yet cracked jokes between breaths, proving toughness and joy could coexist effortlessly within championship-level athletes.
The unexpected brotherhood formed during these sessions created whispers inside the cycling world, sparking curiosity about how two riders once perceived as distant suddenly synced like longtime teammates destined for mutual greatness.
Roglic revealed that trust built slowly at first, sparked by small gestures such as shared bottles, exchanged insights, and constant encouragement, gradually forming a foundation capable of carrying them through the Tour’s hardest stages.
He recalled a pivotal climb where Evenepoel nudged him forward instead of pushing the pace alone, showing that leadership didn’t always mean riding ahead, sometimes it meant lifting someone beside you toward something greater.
This moment, Roglic explained, changed everything, resetting his mindset and teaching him that pressure dissolves when surrounded by teammates who want the same victory and are willing to sacrifice equally for the dream.
He expressed gratitude for Lipowitz as well, calling him the quiet engine of the group, the rider who needed no spotlight yet powered the squad through countless training hours with unwavering commitment and resilience.
The trio built a rhythm quickly, forming a triangle of strengths: Evenepoel’s explosion, Roglic’s experience, and Lipowitz’s consistency, producing a formula that coaches described as unexpectedly perfect and remarkably synchronized.
Roglic said the team dinners became symbolic, representing unity more than nutrition, filled with stories, teasing, advice, and an atmosphere reminding everyone why cycling remained one of the most emotional sports.
He shared how laughter became their secret weapon, explaining that humor neutralized nerves before big simulations, transforming pressure into energy, fear into excitement, and doubt into determination fueled by genuine friendship.
The Slovenian veteran acknowledged that cycling rarely offered such harmony, making the experience even more special, something he wanted to protect, nurture, and carry proudly into the Tour de France battle.
He added that Evenepoel’s youth brought refreshing spontaneity, reminding him to enjoy the present instead of overanalyzing every scenario, which ultimately unlocked a version of himself fans had long hoped to see again.
Roglic confessed that this new dynamic revived his competitive spirit, making each training session feel like a step toward a story not only worth winning but worth remembering for its emotional depth.
He described the team car conversations with enthusiasm, where strategy meetings evolved into creative exchanges, brainstorming possibilities instead of limitations, strengthening their determination to attack the Tour fearlessly.
The Slovenian star said Evenepoel constantly pushed him to break comfort zones, challenging him with unexpected accelerations, clever lines, and sudden tactical scenarios that sharpened his instincts for upcoming Tour stages.
Roglic acknowledged that these interactions cultivated trust—an irreplaceable asset during high-pressure races—helping them anticipate each other’s moves instinctively, as if communicating through pedal strokes instead of words.
He insisted that the energy inside the UAE squad felt different from any team he previously joined, describing it as a blend of ambition, warmth, and quiet confidence radiating from every rider and staff member.
This environment, he said, transformed preparation into joy rather than responsibility, making each kilometer feel purposeful, each conversation meaningful, and each day another opportunity to grow both individually and together.
Roglic emphasized that the biggest secret behind their solidarity was simple: mutual respect, shared goals, and the ability to celebrate each other’s strengths instead of competing for recognition within the team.
He concluded by saying the upcoming Tour de France would be more than a race; it would be a celebration of unity, a test of their bond, and a chance to prove joy could fuel victory.
And as he exited the press event, Roglic carried a smile that cycling fans rarely see—a smile revealing relief, gratitude, and unstoppable belief in the team standing proudly beside him.