ALTO DE GREDOS (Espagne): Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic assured victory in the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) on Saturday and needs only to complete the short ceremonial run to Madrid on Sunday to lift his first Grand Tour after another “good day” in the saddle.
The 29-year Jumbo Visma rider, a former ski-jump champion, leapt into the overall lead in the individual time-trial last week, and maintained a healthy advantage under constant pressure over a string of tough mountain stages. He is clear by over two and a half minutes at the top of the general classification going into the closing ride to the Spanish capital. “I still need one stage, but the mountains are now behind us,” said Roglic.
Saturday’s 20th stage was won by another Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who not only secured the white jersey as best under-25’s rider, but climbed to third place in the overall standings with his third stage victory here.
“Again a good day for us, a good day for Slovenian cycling, this is really nice, I’m really happy with it,” commented Roglic. Pogacar of the UAE Emirates Team is the breakout star of the Vuelta, and deprived Colombia’s Miguel Angel Lopez, one of the great animators of this tour, of the white jersey. – AFP The youngster attacked from within an elite group of riders with 30km to race and produced a relentless show of power. He and his compatriot Roglic need only finish Sunday’s run into Madrid that is fully expected to finish in a mass bunch sprint, to climb onto the podium. – AFP
