Roglič confirms Jumbo Visma exit, beats Pogačar for Italian win | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Primož Roglič has confirmed he is definitely leaving Jumbo Visma at the end of this season, breaking his contract to do so (Photo: Marco Alpozzi)*

The Jumbo Visma team hit the heights of its long - and storied - history this season with three Grand Tour wins but now that era is ending as the man who led the team's march to the top of the sport, Primož Roglič, has decided to leave.

The Slovenian, who was outright leader when the team began its current domination of stage racing, has given an interview confirming his exit is happening, amid rumours swirling around a merger between Jumbo Visma and Soudal-QuickStep.

Though he has another two years on his contract with the Dutch team, 2023 will be his last in the yellow and black as he departs to try and continue winning Grand Tours in the latter years of his career. He has been linked with a move to Ineos Grenadiers - where he would fill the void left by Egan Bernal's unfortunate demise. However, Bora-hansgrohe had also been repeatedly linked with a bid to sign him over a long period of time.

Aside from this two teams - both with deep pockets - reports in recent weeks have also linked the Olympic TT champion, three-time Vuelta winner, Giro champion and 19-time Grand Tour stage winner has also been linked to Israel Premier Tech, Lidl Trek, Movistar and Bahrain Victorious.

“I can just definitely confirm that I will leave the team, but we want to tell all the details to where after the races that I do,” Roglič said at the start of Giro dell’Emilia in Carpi on Saturday, which he went on to win. “So yes, first I’m here to race. I’ll be focused here and then we’ll do the next moves.

Jumbo Visma said in a statement: "After a memorable ride together, Team Jumbo-Visma grant Primož Roglič the opportunity to pursue his ambitions elsewhere in the future."

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

Team boss Richard Plugge added Roglič would be "forever be in my heart as our king".

"We are so grateful for him and I will always admire him on a personal level. However, there comes a moment it is best to part ways. He recently asked us to allow him to transfer. We understood his request and have too much respect for each other to stand in the way of each other so we gave him the green light as we did with (Dylan) Groenewegen."

After speaking to reporters at the start of the race, Roglič then went on to win the 204km race, his first competitive outing since finishing 3rd overall at the Vuelta behind team mates Sepp Kuss and Jonas Vingegaard. Roglič out-sprinted compatriot Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), with Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla) in 3rd.

“It's an iconic old race, with the San Luca climb, I love it, and it's always great to finish it off,” Roglič said of taking victory from a select group in the Il Lombardia warm-up race. "It was super hard, at the end I just went for it and I had the legs to finish it off."