Slovenian Primoz Roglic won this year’s Vuelta a España title when the 21-stage Grand Tour concluded in Madrid today.
It was Roglic’s first Grand Tour victory and the first by a Slovenian.
“I’m very happy. I have no words for this,” said Roglic.
“It gives an indescribable feeling. This victory is not only my most beautiful win, but it is also the biggest win for cycling in Slovenia.
“I’m relieved that we’ve been able to bring this to a close successfully. Now we are going to enjoy it, and then we will focus on our next goals.”
The 29-year-old Jumbo-Visma rider first ascended the overall podium after stage five of the Vuelta a España when he lay second in the standings.
He dropped to fourth after the following stage, but jumped back to second after stage seven.
Stage eight saw Roglic again drop back to fourth, before he returned to second place the next day.
He took the overall race lead for the first time when he won the stage 10 individual time-trial.
Roglic, who placed third overall in this year’s Giro d’Italia, held on to the red jersey for the rest of the Tour to finish with a total time of 83:07:31.
Following the final stage, a 106.6km flat route from Fuenlabrada, the 2019 champion held a 2:16 lead over Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team).
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) finished third overall.
Louis Meintjes (Dimension Data) was the highest placed South African after finishing 51st overall.
Roglic also claimed the green points jersey, while Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R La Mondiale) won the polka-dot king of the mountains jersey and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) the white combination jersey.
The final stage win went to Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) who beat Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Szymon Sajnok (CCC Team) into second and third place respectively.
This was Jakobsen’s second stage victory in this year’s Vuelta.
“This is the biggest moment of my career so far,” said Jakobsen.
“To win here, in the Dutch Champion jersey, is very special, but it wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates to whom I’m extremely grateful not just for today, but also for helping me make it through these tough three weeks.
“This win gives me a lot of happiness, I really can’t put it into words. I’m over the moon knowing that I will leave this brutal race with two victories in the bag.”
Primoz Roglic won the Vuelta a España when the 21-stage Grand Tour concluded in Madrid today. Photo: Luis Angel Gomez/PhotoGomezSport
View more results below.
Stage 21 results
1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck-Quick-Step 2:48:20
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC Team
4. Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
6. Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
7. Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal
8. Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9. Marc Sarreau (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10. Dion Smith (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott
*Selected
31. Willie Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin
40. Jaco Venter (RSA) Team Dimension Data
93. Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Team Dimension Data
147. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Team Dimension Data +0:01:51
General classification
1. Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 83:07:31
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team +0:02:16
3. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates +0:02:38
4. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team +0:03:29
5. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team +0:04:31
6. Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe +0:07:16
7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb +0:09:47
8. Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Lotto Soudal +0:12:54
9. Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team +0:22:10
10. Mikel Nieve (Spa) Mitchelton-Scott +0:22:17
*Selected
51. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Team Dimension Data +2:34:36
107. Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Team Dimension Data +4:05:44
118. Willie Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin +4:23:16
129. Jaco Venter (RSA) Team Dimension Data 4:33:42
