Roglic retains Vuelta a Espana crown as Britain’s Carthy celebrates podium finish
Pascal Ackermann won stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana as Primoz Roglic secured the overall title for a second year running.
Germany' s A ck er mann (Bo ra-Hans gr o he) crossed the line millimetres ahead of Irishman Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-quick Step) at the end of the largely-ceremonial final stage running 106.6 kilometres from Fuenlabrada to Madrid, with the former's compatriot Max Kanter (Sunweb) coming third.
S love ni a' sRoglic( JumboVisma) was confirmed champion a year on from becoming his country's first Grand Tour winner, ending up 24 seconds ahead of Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers).
Great Britain' s Hugh Carthy(EFProCyc ling) could celebrate a podium finish as he came third, one minute and 15 seconds behind Roglic, and Ireland's Dan Martin (Israel Start Up Nation) was fourth at two minutes and 43 seconds.
Roglic, who finished second in the Tour de France general classification in September, said on lavuelta.es: "It's beautiful to finish the season like this. I always say every victory is beautiful.
"I don't know (if I'm the best Grand Tour rider). For sure
I was the best in this Vuelta. There are still races I didn't win yet, more challenges, but first of all today we celebrate."
At the start of yesterday' s stage, Carapaz's team-mate Chris Froome received his trophy for triumphing at the 2011 Vuelta. The Briton was officially declared the winner in July last year following a doping case involving Juan Jose Cobo that saw the Spaniard stripped of the title.