MADRID, 1 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe), with a mistake in the arrival of the time trial, won this Monday in the first stage of the centenary of the Itzulia Basque Country, a 10-kilometer time trial starting and finishing in Irún, with a time of 12:34, 15 seconds ahead of the Danish Jonas Vingegaard (Visma), who placed fifth in defense of the victory in the last edition and the main favorite for the final victory.
Roglic showed off and took the lead in a short first stage, 10 kilometers long, and not too demanding, marked by a start with a small area of cobblestones and a 10% ramp. This first section of the race featured only one climb, a climb of 1.7 kilometers at 5.2% that they had to do at full speed so as not to lose too much time.
And it is in this area that the Slovenian shone, who struck the first blow in the centenary of the Tour of the Basque Country, with confusion included. And Roglic made a mistake at the entrance to the finish line, following the path of the team cars. Thus, he had to turn around, while he laughed under his helmet, to finally set a good time of 12 minutes and 34 seconds, which no one else could beat.
In the first hour of the stage, favorites such as Evenepoel (Soudal Quick Step), Vingegaard and the leader Roglic came out to avoid a rain that did make its presence in the final part of the day, avoiding any type of surprise. The Belgian did not have a smooth time either and lost time at the first start due to a fall in the initial corners, and moved 11 seconds behind the Slovenian, to place fourth.
The current champion did not shine, with a somewhat conservative strategy similar to that of Tirreno Adriatico, without risking too much, knowing that there are still five days left to determine the winner. Thus, he crossed the finish line 15 seconds behind Roglic, with a time that allows him to be very close to the lead and maintain his favoritism in the race.
Very close to the feared Dane came the best Spaniard of the stage, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates), who is sixth (16″) also with options. His teammate, the Australian Jay Vine, finished second, just 7 seconds behind, while the Danish Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) closed the ‘top 3’ at 10 seconds.
Before the start of this first fight of the year between the strong Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Roglic, the British Thomas Pidcock abandoned the race due to an injury during the reconnaissance of the test. The Itzulia enters France in the second stage, for 160 kilometers from Irún to Kanbo, and with only one qualifying pass, at the beginning of the day, of 2.6 km and a 5.9% gradient, so it could be a stage for escape.
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage and General.
1. Primoz Roglic (ESL/Bora-Hansgrohe)12:34.
2. Jay Vine (AUS/UAE Team Emirates) a 7.
3. Mattias Skjelmose (DIN/Lidl-Trek) a 10.
4. Remco Evenepoel (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step) a 11.
5. Jonas Vingegaard (DIN/Team Visma Lease a Bike) a 15.