Roglic dominates in mountains to take back the Red Jersey

Primoz Roglic surged toward a third straight Vuelta a Espana title as he overpowered his rivals in brutal conditions on Wednesday to win atop the iconic ascent to Lagos de Covadonga

Roglic dominates in mountains to take back the Red Jersey

The Slovenian, who began the 17th stage third overall, won after a 185.8km ride when the peloton covered three intimidating climbs in often pouring rain.

"I went well today," said Roglic. "I enjoyed it. Super-nice day for me and for the whole team.

"Without the rain it would have probably been even nicer."

By the start of the final climb only Egan Bernal, the reigning Giro d'Italia champion and a former Tour de France winner, was still with Roglic.

But Jumbo-Visma's Roglic ended the heavyweight battle with one knockout blow, accelerating away from the Colombian with 7.5km to go.

"I didn't decide to go, I just tried to ride up the climb as fast as possible and at that point Egan couldn't follow anymore," said Roglic.

Bernal admitted the better man had won the stage.

"I was happy to be part of this victory for him, he was brave," Bernal said. "He was the strongest today."

While Roglic floated up the mountain, Bernal was unable to hold off his pursuers.

Another Jumbo rider, American Sepp Kuss grabbed second, outsprinting six other rivals to cross the line 1min 35sec after Roglic.

"Impressive day by everyone in the race," said Kuss, soaking wet but beaming at the finish. "Full on all day."

Roglic leads Spaniard Enric Mas of Movistar by 2mins 22sec.

"Never big enough," said Roglic of his lead. "It's nice."

Another Movistar rider, Miguel Angel Lopez, is third, a further 49sec back.

Bernal, the Ineos-Grenadiers rider who started the day in seventh, attacked on the Collada Llomena, the penultimate climb of the day, with 61km to go.

"I had nothing to lose," he said.

Roglic was the only man to follow.

"I just went with him," Roglic said. "He's a racer. I didn't think. I just went with him. Then I had time to think and 'Oh! Still a long way to go!'"

The two rivals worked together to build a gap to the peak and then both continued to press on the slippery, treacherous roads.

"It was already a hard pace and when Bernal went it was blown apart," said Kuss. "It was a brave move to go so early."

Odd Christian Eiking, wearing the leader's red jersey, fell trying to make up time on the rain-lashed descent.

The Norwegian sped round a corner to see three riders on the ground and grabbed his brakes, lost control, and slid across the road to join the pileup.

Frenchman Guillaume Martin of Cofidis, who started the day in second, kept up the chase a little longer before fading on the final climb.

Martin ended the day still fifth overall.

Australian Jack Haig of Bahrain Victorious finished with Kuss to jump to fourth and said he was focused on his rivals for places on the lower steps on the podium.

"Even before today, Roglic already looked unbeatable," Haig said.

The Vuelta faces an even tougher ride Thursday on what Roglic dubbed "The Queen Stage".

It runs 162.6km from Salas over a second-category climb and two first-category climbs before finishing with an hors category ascent up to Altu Del Gamoniteiru.

"Tomorrow is a crazy hard day," said Kuss.

VIDEO: 2021 La Vuelta Stage 17 Highlights

2021 La Vuelta Stage 17 Top 10

1. Primož Roglic (SLO) Jumbo - Visma 4:34:45
2. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo - Visma +1:35
3. Miguel Ángel López (COL) Movistar Team "
4. Adam Yates (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers "
5. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious "
6. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar Team "
7. Egan Bernal (COL) INEOS Grenadiers "
8. Gino Mäder (SUI) Bahrain Victorious "
9. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché - Wanty - +2:29
10. Clément Champoussin (FRA) AG2R - Citroën Team +2:44

2021 La Vuelta GC after Stage 17

1. Primož Roglic (SLO) Jumbo - Visma 68:42:56
2. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar Team +2:22
3. Miguel Ángel López (COL) Movistar Team +3:11
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious +3:46
5. Guillaume Martin (FRA) Cofidis +4:16
6. Egan Bernal (COL) INEOS Grenadiers +4:29
7. Adam Yates (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers +4:45
8. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo - Visma +5:04
9. Felix Großschartner (AUT) BORA - hansgrohe +6:54
10. Gino Mäder (SUI) Bahrain Victorious +6:58

 

 
Tag: vuelta
 
Dec 20 2023 - NEWS: Route for 2024 La Vuelta announced in Madrid
Nov 04 2023 - NEWS: Spanish Island of Mallorca Sets Sights on La Vuelta A España Return
Oct 03 2023 - NEWS: Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss gets Homecoming Party in Durango
Sep 17 2023 - NEWS: American Sepp Kuss wins Vuelta in Jumbo-Visma clean sweep
Sep 16 2023 - NEWS: Sepp Kuss kissing Vuelta Victory as Poels takes stage 20
Sep 15 2023 - NEWS: Team dsm-firmenich take another brilliant Vuelta stage win with Alberto Dainese
Sep 14 2023 - NEWS: American Sepp Kuss closes in on Vuelta a Espana glory
Sep 13 2023 - NEWS: Primoz Roglic takes victory on Altu de L’Angliru on stage 17
Sep 12 2023 - NEWS: Vingegaard attacks teammate Kuss to take Stage 16 win
Sep 10 2023 - NEWS: Rui Costa wins Vuelta stage 15 as American Kuss keeps the Red Jersey
Sep 09 2023 - NEWS: Evenepoel fights back to take stage win and King of the Mountains jersey
Sep 08 2023 - NEWS: Jonas Vingegaard solos to Victory atop the Coldu Tourmalet in Jumbo-Visma 1-2-3
Sep 07 2023 - NEWS: Molano sprints to victory on stage 12 of Vuelta a Espana
Sep 06 2023 - NEWS: Jesus Herada climbs to Victory atop La Laguna Negra
Sep 05 2023 - NEWS: Filippo Ganna wins Time Trial as Sepp Kuss hangs onto Red Jersey
Jun 30 2014 - RESULTS: Vuelta Keystone Gran Fondo
Aug 17 2024 - EVENT: 2024 La Vuelta Espana
Sep 07 2024 - EVENT: Vuelta Chapala
Sep 08 2024 - EVENT: La Vuelta Holanda Breda