ROME. Slovenian Primoz Roglic, Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo 2020 in the individual time trial, won the first stage of the Vuelta, also a ‘time trial’, along a choppy city circuit of 7.1 …
ROME. The Slovenian Primoz Roglic, Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo 2020 in the individual time trial, won the first stage of the Vuelta, also a ‘time trial’, along a choppy city circuit of 7.1 kilometers. Roglic, winner of the Vuelta in the last two years, preceded the Spaniard Alex Aranburu by 6 ”and the Slovenian Jan Tratnik by 8”. Today second stage, between Caleruega and Burgos along 166.7 km.
Fabio Aru, who runs the Vuelta with the rank of captain of the Qhubeka-NextHash, defended himself well. He is not a specialist in the fight against the hands, but the Knight of the Four Moors – with the jersey number 201 – finished in eighty-first position 37 ”behind the winner, still holding up to many of the big favorites. He came just 17 ”behind Adam Yates, and among others he overtook Landa.
At the end, the climber from Villacidro had a smile painted on his face, a smile with which he will face all three weeks of his last race as a professional: “I had lost the feeling and confidence in the last three years, now I’m back here and I’m happy . I don’t know my time yet – Aru began – but for me being here is not like a job, it’s a sport. I’m here to have fun and because running is a pleasure ». And speaking of his announced retirement from racing, he added: «I received many messages of esteem even in the group, and I was pleased».