Roglič, Carapaz, Bernal: Retirement Talk and Bombshell Rumors Leave Questions over 3 Grand Tour Greats

Primoz Roglič, Egan Bernal, Richard Carapaz – rewind to before Tadej Pogačar changed everything, and they were the men to beat.

These three grand tour champions now face uncertain or wildly intriguing futures.

Mountains king and GC threat Carapaz is reportedly due to split from EF Education-EasyPost to join the upstart NSN Cycling Team.

Roglič is being as elusive as ever about his future. We still don’t know whether we’ll see the four-time Vuelta a España winner and Slovenian OG race again.

And Bernal? He’s batted away rumors that he’s going to retire, but he sounded far from convinced.

It could be all-change for three superstars who drove the narrative of the pre-Pogačar era.

Sure, they’re not grand tour favorites any longer, but they continue to influence every race they show up to. What they do next will alter the texture of the sport.

Richard Carapaz to break contract with EF to join NSN?

Richard Carapaz is reportedly poised to break his ongoing contract with EF Education-EasyPost to join NSN Cycling Team.

If it happens, it would be the biggest signing of the season, by far.

Rumors have been swirling for some time that Carapaz was considering an early exit from the American EF team. NSN, Netcompany Ineos, and Pinarello-Q36.5 were touted as possible new employers.

Wielerflits reported Friday that NSN Cycling Team – the squad that formed last year out of the ashes of Israel-Premier Tech – won the battle for the Ecuadorian star’s contract. The move has not yet been confirmed.

If it happens, it’s definitely not a transfer we had on our bingo card.

Carapaz has a long leash at EF Education-EasyPost. The 33-year-old chases stages or GC as he pleases. He seems to thrive in the American team’s all-attacking, always-the-underdog environment.

His palmarés from 2026 proves that point. Two stage wins and the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France, and fourth at the Vuelta? Carapaz is doing just fine.

However, according to Wielerflits, Jonathan Vaughters’ team is suffering a budget pinch. Carapaz would be gobbling a huge chunk of the team’s payroll.

Carapaz would change the identity of team NSN in 2027 if Wielerflits’ reporting is true.

Having already signed Santiago Buitrago and Lennert Van Eetvelt, amongst others, the peloton would have a dangerous new climbing team.

Primož Roglič remains cryptic over future

What’s going on with Primož Roglič? Nobody knows, and he’s hardly dropping any clues either.

The Slovenian star raced for the last time with Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe last weekend at Il Lombardia, and has nothing confirmed for 2027.

But old dog Rog clearly has more to give.

Victory at the European time trial championships, a swashbuckling ride at the road world championships, and second overall at the Vuelta a España put an exclamation point on the 36-year-old’s season.

After initial reports that Rogla would race on with the Belgian Lotto-Intermarché team in 2027, Tudor Pro Cycling and Pinarello-Q36.5 are now reportedly also in the hunt for his signature.

Speaking at Il Lombardia last Saturday, Roglič was characteristically cryptic about his future.

“You never know when it is the last [race],” he said.

When asked if he will continue to race next year, he said, “I don’t know yet. We will see. We will see.”

Tudor Pro Cycling and Pinarello-Q36.5 have both been busy on the transfer market this season. Roglič would be a prize addition for either of these rival ProTeams.

Pinarello-Q36.5 in particular has been making waves in this “silly season.” The squad is plundering billionaire backer Ivan Glasenberg’s deep pockets to build a superteam around Tom Pidcock.

Giulio Ciccone and Mauro Schmid headline 11 new signings for the 2027 season. If Roglič is poised to be number 12, he’s not dropping any clues about it.

Egan Bernal bats away retirement rumors … sort of

Egan Bernal to retire aged 29? It was a rumor that rocked the cycling world last week.

According to reporting by contract sleuth Daniel Benson, the former Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner was contemplating hanging up his wheels for good.

Bernal took only some of the heat out of the speculation last week when he responded with a lengthy Instagram message. The tone was far from conclusive.

“I have a contract with the team through 2029, and for now, my intention is to start next season,” Bernal wrote on Instagram.

Bernal hasn’t raced since the Tour de France. He wrote that after a busy early-season, he had needed time off the grid in summer to reflect on his future.

His statement leaves questions over how long “Bernalito” may remain a pro bike racer.

“I decided to end my season after the Tour de France this year. I needed some time for myself – to rest, relax a little, and regain the peace that can sometimes be lost amidst the pace of racing,” Bernal wrote.

“I want to give myself the time and space needed to face what lies ahead with the same conviction and dedication I have always had,” he continued. “I don’t know exactly what the coming years hold, and I don’t think I need to know everything right now. For now, I want to enjoy the present, experience this moment calmly, and let time take its course.”

Bernal seems at a crossroads in his career, right when it was regaining momentum.

The Colombian star was set back by more than a year after he suffered a terrifying, life-threatening crash into the back of a bus in winter 2022.

Finishing seventh at the Giro d’Italia and winning a stage at the Vuelta a España last summer suggested maybe, say it quietly, “Bernal’s back.” Fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and 10th at this year’s Giro d’Italia reinforced murmurs of a return to form.

Bernal has three more years on his contract with Netcompany Ineos. How many of those he completes seems very uncertain right now.