Roglič Tightens Grip On Vuelta Lead

Slovenian in pole position to make national history.

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Primož Roglič is in prime position to take his maiden Grand Tour win at the Vuelta a España this weekend after a commanding performance in the mountains over the race’s second week.

The Jumbo-Visma rider took the race’s coveted red jersey in the time trial last Tuesday, as had been expected, and won the stage to boot. The Slovenian ended that day with a lead of 1.52 over Spanish challenger Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and as the race entered the second rest day he’d extended that to 2.25.

Much of that lead was built on the steep slopes of the Los Machucos where Roglič escaped with fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) and put 27 seconds into Valverde and Nairo Quintana (Movistar). Roglič described it as a “majestic day for Slovenian cycling”.