Jumbo-Visma's Primoz Roglic crowned 2019 La Vuelta Champion
Geoffrey Bouchard won the King of the Mountains Polka Dot Jersey and Tadej Pogacar won the young riders White Jersey in Madrid
The 29-year Jumbo Visma rider, a former ski-jump champion, leapt into the overall lead in the individual time-trial and defended the Red Jersey even under constant pressure over a string of tough mountain stages.
Jumbo-Visma provided Roglic with a solid platform from which to take his victory, surrounding their leader with a strong team after he failed to close out the Giro d'Italia in May.
Roglic said on the way to the finish in Madrid “It’s a special moment. It’s nice to come to the end of La Vuelta and for sure I’ll be happy in Madrid."
World champion Alejandro Valverde of Spain's Movistar team assured second place, but his teammate Nairo Quintana, who started Saturday in third dropped to fourth when Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, climbed to third place in the overall standings with his third stage victory on the final mountain stage.
Pogacar of the UAE Emirates Team is the shining star of the Vuelta, he deprived Colombia's Miguel Angel Lopez, one of the great attackers of the tour, of the under 25's white jersey.
27 year-old Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R La Mondiale) won the Polka-Dot climbing jersey after his many attacks and day's in the breakaway.
Nairo Quintana wore the green points jersey, won by Roglic, as the next overall GC winner in fourth place behind Valverde second overall wearing the World Champion's jersey and Tadej Pogacar third overall wearing the White Jersey.
Movistar won the team award despite being embroiled in controversy on Stage 19 when a crash delayed several favorites.
VIDEO: 2019 La Vuelta Stage 21 Highlights
2019 La Vuelta Final General Classification
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
3 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
4 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
5 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team
6 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe
7 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb
8 Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Lotto Soudal
Solvenian Aces: Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar. Credit: Bettini Photo