Roglič's crucial stage win restores Vuelta leader's jersey
Alto de'l Angliru, 3 November - Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) won the stage 13 time trial at the 2020 Vuelta de Espana on Tuesday, donning the leader's jersey again ahead of the remaining five stages. The defending champion now has a 39 seconds lead over Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers).
Orcieres-Merlette, France
Slovenian rider Primož Roglič (Team Jumbo-Visma) at this year's Tour de France, where he placed second.
Photo: dpa/STA
File photo
The 33.7km individual time trial from Muros to Mirador de Ezaro kicked off the final week of the prestigious race that has been a very close affair this year.
Apart from Roglič, three riders are now most likely still in the running for winning the race. The Slovenian rider, considered a world-class time triallist, faced the time trial stage for the first time since conceding this year's Tour de France at this top tour to fellow Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar.
Today's time trial was almost a spitting image of that in France - a mostly flat terrain and a very steep climb at the end.
The 31-year-old initially appeared as if he was saving strength, but he then stepped up and outperformed the other riders in the final two kilometres of the steep ascent.
"It's gorgeous. I haven't won the time trial in a while. This has been a very good day for us. I was very strong, perhaps a bit surprisingly so. I thought I would suffer more, but it went swimmingly," said Roglič after today's win, adding that the team has to focus since the rivals are strong as well. "We will fight until the very end."