Roglic set to win Vuelta after holding off Carapaz
When Richard Carapaz powered away on the race’s decisive climb with the Spanish Vuelta title at stake, Primoz Roglic appeared for a few agonizing moments to be on the brink of another collapse like the one that cost him the Tour de France title.
Instead, the Slovenian rider found his pace with some help from other riders to protect him from the headwind atop the beyondcategory Alto de la Covatilla, Spain. Almost two months after losing the Tour on the penultimate day, Roglic is now poised to win his second straight Vuelta title after Saturday’s last competitive test.
Carapaz beat Roglic to the finish line of the mountainous 17th stage, but it was not enough for the Ecuadorian to move ahead in the general classification. Roglic’s advantage over Carapaz was cut from 45 to 24 seconds ahead of Sunday’s largely ceremonial stage.
“It is good to have exciting finishes. It was exciting, but I still had legs just enough that I knew that if I go at my own tempo it should be enough,” Roglic said. “At the end, you need to stay under control and just do your thing.”
France’s David Gaudu won the grueling 110-mile ride from Sequeros that took riders up six climbs in the rain and fog.
Sunday’s ride to Madrid is now set to be a chance for Roglic and his JumboVisma teammates to savor the victory — after he came so close to winning this year’s Tour de France.
In September, Roglic had entered the time trial on the penultimate stage of the Tour with what appeared to be a sufficient advantage, only to have it blown away by eventual champion Tadej Pogacar.
This time, Roglic had enough left – just – to squeak out the victory.
“My team really helped me. Again, a really nice race for the whole team right from the start,” Roglic said. “I am really happy. [It is] a really nice way to finally finish the season.”
Following cycling tradition, Roglic’s rivals won’t challenge his lead on Sunday’s stage, when the sprinters will dispute the flat 86-mile ride into the center of Spain’s capital.
ETA CANCELS RACING AT GULFSTREAM WEST
Gulfstream Park West has canceled its Sunday racing program because of the impending arrival of Tropical Storm Eta. The National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys. Racing resumes at Gulfstream West on
Wednesday.
ETC.
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