Primoš Roglic has finished first and second in two Grand Tours this year, but the Slovenian and his Jumbo Visma team have no plans to lower their expectations for another shot at a major stage race in 2021.

After narrowly missing out on Tour de France success in the final time trial at La Planche des Belles Fils, Roglic will bounce back to defend his Vuelta a España crown and head into next season as the team leader at the Tour.

But while the team is taking time to celebrate its successes in the Vuelta and UCI team and rider rankings, director Merijn Zeeman knows that next year will be an even tougher challenge.

"Primosch certainly has another chance and he will be at the top for the next few years. Primosch has grown a lot and we are progressing and learning as a team," Zeeman told Cycling News.

"It's a new situation for us too. Last year we won the Vuelta and learned how to control the race. It's a constant learning process for us and we are getting better and better, but it's not the end. If we can keep growing, we can compete in the Grand Tours. Right now we have two wins, but we want to do even better.

Roglic led this year's Tour de France for 10 days and was the favorite to win the final time trial, but collapsed on the final climb, allowing Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) to take a dramatic victory. For Roglic, it was the lowest point of his short career, and many wondered if he would return to racing before the New Year.

But he recovered almost immediately, finishing sixth in the world championship road race, winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and taking four stage wins and the overall title in the Vuelta.

Zeman, who has worked with Roglic since the Slovenian joined the team in 2016, considers the Vuelta win his best to date, especially given what happened at the Tour de France.

"Last year was his first Grand Tour win, coming back from the Giro after being sick. Last year was his first Grand Tour win and he came back after the Giro when he was sick. He didn't race before the Vuelta, so he was fresh and at the highest level. But what rider in the world has just suffered the biggest disappointment of his career and yet won the Grand Tour and the Monument?

"I already respected him and it was an honor to be part of his journey. He is racing, always learning, always writing something down. He is the best example I have ever seen in terms of an athlete who has the mindset to grow and improve."

"After the Dauphiné he was in pain from a fall. I was with him in Tinguet and saw with my own eyes how he had battled that injury. Just the fact that he was able to compete in the Tour de France is a victory. He has true mental strength."

According to Zeman, the wounds from the Tour de France loss are still fresh. In the Vuelta, Roglic lost the lead twice and was nearly eliminated in the final mountain stage when he was attacked for the last time by second-placed Richard Calapaz (Ineos Grenadiers).

"Everything this year has been focused on the Tour de France, and a lot of energy has been put into training as well as group vitality and cohesion. It was a big goal and of course the consequences were traumatic.

"That feeling is still there. It was just a month and a half ago. As the last weekend in the Vuelta approached, Primorsch was no longer at his best. But we kept racing with passion and motivation

"Of course, the last weekend was nerve-wracking, but we had a really strong team and we were able to control the stage and bring Primoš to the finish. We weren't at our best anymore, but we still had drive, motivation and teamwork. We really wanted to take this win home. From a sporting standpoint, this is a bigger achievement than just being the best, and maybe something to be proud of."