Already winner of the 2019 La Vuelta, Primoz Roglič (Team Jumbo-Visma) made the most of the first summit finish of the 2020 edition to claim back La Roja as the overall race leader. The Slovenian star controlled his rivals in the Alto de Arrate and launched a powerful attack with 1km to go to immediately assert his authority on the race. Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) finished second ahead of Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation). This first stage already opened significant gaps, with only eight riders within 10’’ of Roglič.
The pack rolls out of Irun with 176 starters for the last Grand Tour of the season. Attacks fly from the start of the 75th edition of La Vuelta. Two Frenchmen manage to open a gap after 5km of hard racing: Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Quentin Jauregui (AG2R-La Mondiale). Jasha Sütterlin (Sunweb), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) and Jetse Bol (Burogs-BH) join them to form the breakaway of the day while Aritz Bagües (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) fails to do bridge the gap and is eventually caught by the pack at km 27.
Jumbo-Visma and Movistar control the gap and the attackers’ lead doesn’t get higher than 3’50’’ after 37km. The rain adds to the tension of the first stage and Dani Martinez (EF Pro Cycling) suffers a crash at km 75. The peloton maintains a strong pace and the attackers stop collaborating when the race hits the first climbs of the day. Quentin Jauregui is eventually the last rider to be caught, 25km away from the finish line.
Kuss and Roglic break the Ineos lock
Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) attacks with 19km to go but Ineos Grenadiers control the bunch in the Alto de Elgeta. Their road captain Chris Froome is among the main riders to struggle on that climb. Andrey Amador (Ineos Grenadiers) sets the pace all the way to the bottom of the Alto de Arrate: 5.3km at 7.7%.
Ivan Sosa ups the ante on the way up for the British squad and the front group only counts 16 riders when Sepp Kuss (Team Jumbo-Visma) attacks with 4.5km to go. Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) chases behind him but the American rider keeps pushing until it’s time for his leader to shine: Primoz Roglič surges with 1km to go and makes his way to victory 1’’ ahead of Carapaz and Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation).
