The Slovenian conquers the Catalan test after surprising Juan Ayuso with an attack 20 kilometers from the finish line; Enric Mas completes the podium
The Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) has been crowned the winner of the 104th edition of the Volta a Catalunya this Sunday after taking the lead with his victory in the seventh and final stage, covering 88.2 kilometers with both the start and finish in Barcelona, snatching the leadership and the final triumph from the Spaniard Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
In a decisive day with the traditional final circuit in Montjuïc with six scoring ascents to the Alt del Castell, the Slovenian attacked on the antepenultimate climb, 20 kilometers from the finish line, leaving Ayuso behind, who finished 19 seconds behind closing the group of favorites.
In this way, Roglic conquers his second Volta a Catalunya, after the one in 2023, taking over as the winner from his compatriot Tadej Pogacar. Additionally, he shows his cards for his first major goal of the season, the Giro d’Italia. The podium is completed by two Spaniards, Ayuso, 28 seconds behind, and Enric Mas (Movistar Team), 53 seconds behind.
Determined to overcome the one-second disadvantage he had going into the final stage, Roglic already accumulated three bonus seconds, compared to one for the still leader, in the intermediate sprint in Viladecans, at kilometer 12, although Ayuso regained the lead in the second bonus sprint, at kilometer 41 – three seconds for the Spaniard and one for the Slovenian.
The strategic movements, with the UAE Team Emirates-XRG of Ayuso trying to control the peloton, were shattered by Roglic’s attack with only 20.5 kilometers to go. It was the antepenultimate ascent to the castle of Montjuïc, and the four-time Vuelta a España champion and winner of the 2023 Giro delivered the final blow.
While the chasing group failed to catch him, with unsuccessful attempts like that of Enric Mas, Roglic made his way solo towards the finish line, which he crossed in a time of 1:58:27, 14 seconds ahead of the other two riders who managed to break away from the peloton, the Belgians Laurens de Plus (INEOS Grenadiers) and Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto).
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage.
1. Primoz Roglic (SVN/Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) 1:58:27.
2. Laurens de Plus (BEL/INEOS Grenadiers) at 14.
3. Lennert van Eetvelt (BEL/Lotto)m.t.
4. Dorian Godon (FRA/Decathlon-AG2R) 19.
5. Sylvain Moniquet (BEL/Cofidis) m.t.
…//…
34. JUAN AYUSO (ESP/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 19.
-General.
1. Primoz Roglic (SVN/Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) 24:46:21.
2. JUAN AYUSO (ESP/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at 28.
3. ENRIC MAS (ESP/Movistar Team)53.
4. MIKEL LANDA (ESP/Soudal Quick-Step)54.
5. Lenny Martinez (FRA/Bahrain-Victorious)1:00.
FUENTE