Team boss Denk talks about how team reached crucial decision regarding Roglic: "It was clear to see"

On Friday, the Tour de France lost two key figures in one day: Juan Ayuso (UAE-Team Emirates) withdrew due to Covid-19, and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe leader Primoz Roglic didn't start the day's stage following his crash the day before. Team boss Ralph Denk described how the rider and the team reached this decision in the team's podcast.

"Before the start, we had a conversation with Primoz, Rolf Aldag and our doctor. We discussed various things," begins the CEO of the German team. "Naturally, Primoz's health was a major topic. He had no fractures, but he was severely bruised all over. He wasn't feeling well, which was clear to see and very visible," Denk described the impact of the crash on his rider.

"He had already fallen the day before, so the cumulative effect of those crashes meant he couldn't start. We made that decision together and have to accept it," said Denk. "When you hit the asphalt at such high speed, you simply can't continue at this level. So, it's the right decision to not continue the Tour."

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Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe not rushing plans with Roglic

"In the end, we weighed everything and, looking towards the future, decided it was better this way. For Primoz, there’s no point in just finishing the Tour or maybe, just maybe, aiming for a stage win. Then you quickly come to the conclusion that it's better to focus on future goals," continued the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team boss.

What are those future goals? "There’s still a full cycling calendar ahead, with the Vuelta, Tour of Poland, Clasica San Sebastian, the World Championships in Zurich, and the Tour of Lombardy," Denk listed. "Many highlights remain, but right now it's too early to make those choices. You shouldn't even want to at this moment. Primoz is still in a kind of shock after his withdrawal from this Tour."