Roglic set to clinch Vuelta crown, Pogacar earns third stage win

Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, at the end of the 13th stage between Bilbao-Los Machucos Monumento Vaca Pasiega. Photo: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, at the end of the 13th stage between Bilbao-Los Machucos Monumento Vaca Pasiega. Photo: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Published Sep 14, 2019

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PLATAFORMA DE GREDOS – Slovenian Primoz Roglic is poised to win the Vuelta a Espana after retaining the leader's red jersey on Saturday as his compatriot Tadej Pogacar won the decisive stage 20 in the mountains with a stunning display of solo climbing.

Barring a crash in Sunday's final stage from Fuenlabrada to the centre of Madrid, the 29-year-old will earn his first Grand Tour victory and become the fist Slovenian to win one of cycling's three biggest races.

Roglic came fifth in the gruelling 190km mountain stage – containing five climbs – from Arenas de San Pedro to Plataforma de Gredos nine seconds behind world champion Alejandro Valverde, who is set to be the overall runner-up.

Roglic holds a lead of two minutes and 33 seconds over Valverde, while Pogacar is practically guaranteed third place and a spot on the podium after another superb solo display.

Pogacar, 20, formed part of the general classification group for the bulk of the stage but attacked on the penultimate climb to target the breakaway group containing Tao Geoghegan Hart and Ruben Guerreiro.

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/TamauPogi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TamauPogiha sumado su tercera etapa en #LaVuelta19 mientras @rogla sentenciaba la general. Revívelo en 1'.

⏯ A third stage for the prodigy Pogacar in the last mountain stage, where Roglic certified his final GC win. The 1' summary. pic.twitter.com/YVKuyysymz

— La Vuelta (@lavuelta)

The youngster, who has had an astonishing debut Grand Tour, did not stay with the duo for long and launched a solo attack which saw him steadily increase his advantage as he crested the Puerto de Pena Negra climb alone.

Pogacar never looked like relinquishing his lead and came over the finish line at the summit of Plataforma de Gredos one minute and 32 seconds ahead of second-placed Valverde to collect his third stage win of the Vuelta.

Reuters

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