The retirement or continuation of Primoz Roglic at the end of the next season will be one of the topics that will dominate discussions at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe until he officially makes a decision.

In this regard, the four-time Vuelta España winner had previously stated his desire to soon dedicate himself to his wife and children, letting family responsibilities definitively take precedence over cycling, but he has not yet felt that moment has arrived.

A great question mark hangs over the head of the Giro d'Italia 2023 champion, who will certainly have to deal with increasingly fresh and tenacious opponents next season, as well as an increasingly qualified internal competition. With Lipowitz, Hindley, an up-and-coming Pellizzari, and the newly arrived Remco Evenepoel, it will be complicated to act as sole leaders in the grand tours of 2026, but this does not seem to worry the 1989 Trbovlje native too much, who is convinced that it is more important to understand how the team can win rather than overthinking who should be the designated men to do so.

Regarding internal coexistence, remaining career goals, the complexity of today's cycling, and the recent challenge that saw him alongside Pogacar, Del Toro, and Vingegaard, here's what the experienced Slovenian champion told us.

Primoz, what was it like competing with Jonas, Tadej, and Isaac in Andorra, and what do you think of this format?

"It was a different experience than usual, but very enjoyable. To the point that I wouldn't mind doing it again. I really liked the format with the time trial followed by the road race, and I believe everyone had fun in the end."

Do you think something similar could be replicated in Slovenia in the future, perhaps with you, Tadej, Matej, and Omrzel?

"Why not? We don't have a large number of champions, but we certainly don't lack some very strong riders. It could be done. Next year we'll have the Europeans in Slovenia, so afterward, we could organize something..."

Regarding retirement: have you already made a decision or are you still reflecting on what to do?

"I'd like to know when I'll retire to be able to plan my future, but knowing myself, I'll probably make a decision at the last moment, whatever it may be. Certainly, it's undeniable that with each passing day I'm getting older and the moment when I'll say 'enough' is approaching, but it's difficult to say when this will happen. I still have a contract with the team this year and will certainly race, for the rest I'll see how things evolve day by day, but as long as motivation is on my side, I'll continue to compete. In any case, I'm not afraid of stopping or doing something else."

Will you close by returning to your origins and winter sports?

"I'd like to. I came to cycling from winter disciplines, I hope to continue skiing and enjoying the snow, but for now, I'll try to stay on the bike as much as possible."

You've won the Giro and Vuelta, stages in all three Grand Tours, Olympic and World medals, as well as Monument classics and practically all week-long stage races: what would you like to fight for next season?

"I like to win, so that's the goal."

Are 100 professional wins an achievable milestone?

"If we take this season as a reference, I think it will take me another ten years or so to reach that number... I've already won 91, a figure I never would have imagined achieving in my cycling career. Of course, it would be nice to add a few more, but the fact that I can still compete with the best in the world is in itself already something important, and precisely being forced to improve and bring out the best version of myself every year to succeed is the fuel that drives me forward."

You've witnessed Giulio Pellizzari's growth internally this year: do you think he could be a leader in some races next season?

"He could be. He's a talented guy who can definitely become a great rider in the future. He has already shown he's very strong, winning a stage at the Vuelta and finishing sixth in the general classification, almost obtaining the white jersey for best young rider. He has great potential, and I believe that by proving it with victories, he will eventually earn the captain's status. The point, however, is not so much about being a leader or not, but understanding how to win. Often we worry about whether someone is a captain in certain races, but that shouldn't occupy our thoughts - what matters is understanding how to succeed."

At Red Bull, you're certainly many who can race as leaders, and in some races you'll probably be forced to share leadership: how will you find the right balance? Simply by talking to each other and finding the right chemistry?

"Exactly. From my point of view, it's simple: if I'm not capable of winning races, I don't want to have the captain's role. I believe that to be a leader, first and foremost, one must demonstrate being up to the task and capable of doing great things, and secondly, be able to bring out the best from the entire team and the guys around him."

How do you imagine coexisting with Evenepoel?

"Very easily. Honestly, there are plenty of races, so from my perspective, the issue isn't about who will race some or who will be captain in others, but how we'll win them and be the best. This has always been my way of thinking - focusing first on how, as a team, we can be the strongest. I don't care if it's him or someone else who brings home successes: what matters is that he's a positive addition to the team because he has proven to be special, has won a lot in the past, so we hope he can do the same with us next year."

It's becoming increasingly common to see very young and talented riders arrive very early in the professional ranks: some make a difference, others struggle a bit more, while others have sudden crises. In your opinion, is cycling too stressful today?

"It's certainly different from the past. The generation taking over consists of very young riders, nineteen or even eighteen-year-olds, already possessing a level that allows them to achieve great results and compete with people like us. It's a world that can sometimes be difficult for such young riders to understand, but that's how things are - it's a challenge, and it is for me too: it's precisely this that drives me forward, keeps me young, and allows me to compete with them, with the most promising young riders."