- Primož Roglič of team Jumbo-Visma secured the overall win at this year’s Vuelta a España, making it the first Grand Tour win for both his team and country.
- Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde placed second, while Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates came in third after managing three stage wins.
- Jumbo-Visma is looking to have a strong season next year as Tom Dumoulin will join them for 2020 and Roglič’s contract has been extended through 2023.
Over the weekend, Team Jumbo-Visma’s Primož Roglič just won the 2019 Vuelta a España, making him the first Slovenian to win one of professional cycling’s three-week “Grand Tours.”
He finished 2:33 ahead Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde and 2:55 over UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogačar. The former junior world ski jumping champion’s upward trajectory has been steady: Fourth in last year’s Tour de France, third in this year’s Giro d’Italia, and now a victory in the Vuelta a España. Not bad for a guy who only took up cycling back in 2012!
What Happened
Roglič entered the Vuelta as one of the prerace favorites, and after losing 40 seconds when his team crashed during the opening stage’s team time trial, the Slovenian quickly fought his way back into contention the next day. Roglič soon established himself as one of the most consistent riders in this year’s race, never faltering while the contenders closest to him yo-yoed back and forth between good days and bad ones. By the end of the first week, Roglič sat second overall, only 6 seconds behind then-leader Nairo Quintana of Movistar, and poised to take the red leader’s jersey during Stage 10’s individual time trial.
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And boy did he: The soon to be 30-year-old dominated the 36-kilometer undulating course around Pau, putting minutes into his closest rivals to emerge with the red jersey and an almost two minute advantage over Valverde in second place. Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez, who wore the red jersey three times in the first week, and Quintana, who started the stage in first place overall, fell to third (at 2:11) and fourth (at 3:00), respectively.
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Roglič’s biggest test was to come at the end of the second week, with three summit finishes in four stages offering a chance for climbers like Valverde, Lopez, and Quintana to get back into contention. Instead, it was Roglič and his young compatriot Pogačar who asserted themselves, with Roglič extending his lead and Pogačar taking a second stage win and making himself a real threat to join Roglič on the final podium.
The final week began with Quintana jumping up to second overall after crosswinds broke the race apart on Stage 17. But Roglič held serve with a second-place finish on the next day’s summit finish.
Stage 20 brought the final test for Roglič and his team, a mountainous stage through the Sierras west of Madrid. But with all eyes on Roglič, it was again Pogačar who stole the show, as the 20-year-old attacked on the penultimate climb to win his third stage of the Vuelta and move himself back up to third-place overall.
The Critical Moment
The mountains are always intense at the Vuelta a España, and this year’s edition had eight uphill finishes. But in the end, the race came down to the only individual time trial, where Roglič laid the foundation for his victory.
Why It Matters
In addition to being the first Grand Tour victory for a Slovenian, this is also the first for Jumbo-Visma—a team that’s been knocking on the door of win like this for quite some time. And they’re only getting stronger: The team has signed Tom Dumoulin for 2020, giving the Dutch squad a roster that could give Team INEOS a run for its money in next year’s Tour de France.
As for Roglič, his victory sent a message to the team that it better not forget about its home-grown talent in the wake of Dumoulin’s addition, a message that seems to have been received loud and clear judging from the announcement that the team had extended Roglič’s contract through the end of 2023. With a lineup including Dumoulin, Roglič, and Steven Kruijswijk (who finished third in this year’s Tour de France), Jumbo-Visma should be living large in 2020 and beyond.
What’s Next
With the season’s biggest stage races in our rear view mirror, all eyes turn to Yorkshire where the sport’s best one-day riders and time trialists will battle at the UCI Road World Championships. Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s Philippe Gilbert will be one of the top favorites after the Belgian took two impressive stage wins at the Vuelta a España. And while nothing’s been confirmed, don’t be surprised if Roglič enters the individual time trial. He won a silver medal in the event at worlds in 2017, and would be a top favorite should he choose to start.
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