Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) claimed back La Roja thanks to his third stage win on the roads of La Vuelta 2020 on Friday as he dominated the uphill finish in Suances after another demanding day of racing along the coast. The Slovenian star moved past everyone inside the last 200m to take victory ahead of Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step). Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) was leading by 13’’ on GC but he dropped 3’’ on the line and saw Roglic claim 10 bonus seconds, allowing the Slovenian to lead the overall standings thanks to a better score when adding their placings in the 10 first stages of La Vuelta 2020. They are set to battle it out on the climbs of Asturias this week-end.
Attacks fly as soon as the 157-man peloton start from Castro Urdiales, welcoming a La Vuelta stage for the first time since 1958. Michal Paluta (CCC), Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal), Pim Ligthart (Total Direct Energie) and Alexander Molenaar (Burgos-BH) quickly open a 20’’ gap, before Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) join them at the front. Other riders try to participate in the day’s breakaway, unsuccessfully, and the front group actually loses a member when Paluta punctures at km 13. He never makes it back.
Movistar move to the front of the bunch when the gap hits a maximum of 12’15’’ at km 44. Paluta is eventually reeled in by the peloton at km 46. Deceuninck-Quick Step and Mitchelton-Scott take care of the chase from that point, Astana join them at km 80 and the gap steadily decreases: 8 minutes with 100km to go and 6 minutes 20km later.
Mitchelton-Scott drive the bunch
The attackers’ lead is down to 4’15’’ when they hit the bottom of the only categorised climb of the day, the Alto de San Cipriano (cat 3). Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) struggles to stick with the bunch over the top, 60km away from the finish.
Mitchelton-Scott up the ante with 35km to go. The gap quickly drops to 1’ and Sam Bennett is definitely dropped from the bunch 27km away from the line. Brent Van Moer, Pim Ligthart and Alexander Molenaar are caught by the bunch 10km later.
Cavagna and Martin try
Willie Smit (Burgos-BH) attacks with 11km to go but he’s quickly caught. Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) immediately counter-attack. The Frenchman goes solo inside the last 5km but he is caught with 3.5km to go.
Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) accelerates in the final kilometre but Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) bridges the gap before Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) flies past everyone. Only 8 riders finish in the same time. Carapaz loses 3’’, allowing the Slovenian to lead the overall standings thanks to a better score when adding their placings in the 10 first stages of La Vuelta 2020.
