MADRID, 4 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
The Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic, from Jumbo-Visma, became the first leader of the Vuelta al País Vasco on Monday after winning the first stage, a 7.5-kilometre time trial starting and finishing in the Gipuzkoan town of Hondarribia.
The winner of the Vuelta a España, one of the great names of this edition of the Itzulia and winner last month of the Paris-Nice, was the fastest in this first contact, a very short time trial, but very technical and with the hardness of the sections of the Castillo de San Telmo or the Casco Antiguo.
Roglic set the fastest time with 9:48. He took his first small advantage over other candidates for victory in the Basque round such as the Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), second at five seconds and the only one who could come close . The British Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates (INEOS Grenadiers), who have already lost 18, while the best Spaniard in this first stage was the local rider Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), who lost 20 seconds to the winner.
This Tuesday the second stage of this Vuelta al País Vasco will take place, starting in Leitza and finishing in Viana, in Navarra, over 207.9 kilometres, the longest of the entire race and with three ports, two third-class and one second category.
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage and general.
1. Primoz Roglic (SLO / Jumbo-Visma) 9:48.
2. Remco Evenepoel (BEL/Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) a 5.
3. Rémi Cavagna (FRA/Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 16.
4. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INEOS Grenadiers) 18.
5. Adam Yates (GBR/INEOS Grenadiers) m.t.