Primož Roglič Seizes GC Lead with a Solo Climb Victory on Vuelta a España Stage 19

Primož Roglič Seizes GC Lead with Dominant Solo Victory on Vuelta a España Stage 19

The Slovenian champion delivered a powerful performance at the summit finish on the Alto de Moncalvillo.

After steadily chipping away at the competition for weeks, Primož Roglič finally claimed the red leader’s jersey from Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) on stage 19 of the Vuelta a España. Roglič made a remarkable solo move on the final climb, resulting in a stage win that, according to him, wasn’t initially part of the plan.

“I didn’t need to win the stage,” Roglič admitted post-race. “But some riders decided not to listen, so we had no choice but to push for it.”

The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider and his team showcased their dominance as they reeled in the day’s breakaway at the foot of the final climb in northern Spain. Roglič then launched a decisive attack halfway up the ascent, securing a solo victory by 51 seconds ahead of the runner-up and 1:49 ahead of O’Connor, who couldn’t match the Slovenian’s strength.

O’Connor now sits second overall, 1:54 behind Roglič, with Enric Mas in third at 2:20. Despite the considerable gap, Roglič remains cautious about the days ahead. “We always say the ‘Queen stage is coming.’ It will be extremely tough, and we still have a decisive time trial in Madrid. It’s far from over.”

Roglič expressed his amazement at the time advantage he’s gained over O’Connor, considering he was nearly five minutes behind after stage six. “I’m pleased with how things are going and grateful for my team’s support.”

If Roglič maintains his lead, he could secure his fourth Vuelta victory, adding to his last win in 2021.

As for O’Connor, the Australian acknowledged his struggles on the Moncalvillo but vowed to fight for second place in the remaining stages. Reflecting on his performance, he said, “I felt good until halfway up the climb, but then it just got tough. I wasn’t surprised by the attack, but I didn’t expect to fade so much.”

When asked about his thoughts after wearing the red jersey since stage six, O’Connor humorously replied, “I’m looking forward to Monday—having beers, sitting on a terrace, and relaxing.”

How It Unfolded

Stage 19 of the Vuelta featured two major climbs—the category-three Puerto de Pradilla and the first-category summit finish on Alto de Moncalvillo. Known as one of the most challenging climbs in the Rioja region, the Moncalvillo’s 8.6km ascent features an average gradient of 8.9%, with sections reaching up to 15%.

Several breakaway attempts were neutralized in the early part of the race before a five-man group managed to gain over five minutes on the peloton. However, the gap soon began to shrink, with Roglič’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team taking control of the race.

By the time the leaders hit the final climb, the breakaway was caught, and Roglič’s team ramped up the pace. With 5.8km to go, Roglič made his move, breaking away from the group and quickly building a significant lead. O’Connor and the other top contenders were left behind, struggling to respond.

As Roglič powered on alone, Mas and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) took advantage of O’Connor’s fatigue, widening the gap further. Roglič, maintaining his high cadence, secured both the stage win and the GC lead, setting himself up for a challenging but promising final push toward victory.