Tadej Pogacar celebrates again in Vuelta a España, Primoz Roglic extends GC lead
Sep 06 2019 11:36 pm CET
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Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) has taken his second stage win in the 2019 Vuelta a España. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) crossed the line in the second position and extended his lead in the General Classification.
The 166.4-kilometre stage started in the San Mamés stadium of Athletic Bilbao and had a finish on the iconic climb of Los Machucos. Around 30 riders formed the escape group early on the day, but it grew smaller as the climbs and new attacks passed until only Euskadi-Murias' Hector Saez remained in front alone.
The peloton rode together for most of the course until Astana set a very high rhythm on the penultimate climb of the day and made a selection that included all of the favourites. On the last ascent of the stage, Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) arrived to the front man with around six kilometres to go and seconds later left the Spaniard behind.
Meanwhile, Astana started the same climb at top gas trying to cause damage in favour of Miguel Ángel López. With around five kilometres to go, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) changed the pace and created a gap with the rest of the favourites, while at the front Pierre Latour (AG2R La Mondiale) caught Armirail and left him struggling behind.
Shortly after, Quintana was caught by the rest of the favourites and the wearer of the Red Jersey Primoz Roglic set the rhythm with his fellow countryman Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), dropping the Colombian of Movistar and López while Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) could stay at their wheel but not for long.
At 1.5 kilometres from the finish line, Roglic and Pogacar got to Latour and dropped him right away while Valverde and Quintana tried to control the damage and López lost some more time. Pogacar crossed the finish line in the first position -taking his second stage win in the race- and Roglic finished second -taking some bonus seconds. Valverde and Quintana arrived to the line 27 seconds later and López did so at one minute and one second.
The Slovenian of Jumbo-Visma extended his GC lead and is now two minutes and 25 seconds ahead of Valverde, while Pogacar climbed to the third position and López and Quintana dropped one place each.
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PRIMOž ROGLIC
UAE TEAM EMIRATES
TEAM JUMBO - VISMA
LA VUELTA CICLISTA A ESPAñA
