The Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic (Red Bull Bora) has returned to winning the overall classification in the Vuelta a Españawhich he had not won since 2021, when he had chained three consecutive victories. Three years later, Roglic has arrived in red in Madrid, which has been the venue for a time trial that was won by the Swiss Stefan Küng (Groupama FDJ).
La Vuelta 2024 | Stage 21 summary
Spanish Enric Mas (Movistar) was unable to take second place in the general classification from Australian Ben O’Connor (Decathlon) and will climb to third place on the podium at Cibeles.
“It was my worst day in the Vuelta. I didn’t have a good feeling or strength and we had to settle for third place,” said the Balearic in statements to RTVE after the stage. The Spanish cyclist hoped to reduce the eleven seconds that separated him from O’Connor, but it wasn’t his day.
01.39 min Full transcript
What is the body like?
How do you feel about this Vuelta?
How do you rate this podium?
I’m exhausted, really.
These have been days of great exhaustion.
I think it has been the big one…
Did you know it was just a matter of time?
Nine or 11 seconds, I don’t remember.
It was very little. I had a feeling I could do it.
In the end, it became very complicated for me.
Even the stage has come my way.
I think it’s been the worst day ever today.
The worst day of all this Vuelta.
Did you have that awareness right from the start?
All,
It was a very fast time trial,
But there is no excuse, I just had a really bad time.
And nothing.
Leaving that moment, looking back 20 days,
Where have you enjoyed the most and where have you suffered the most?
Where I suffered the most was at the port…
And where I enjoyed the most, on Lagos day,
and Sierra Nevada Day too.
What’s left of the season?
I hope for the World Cup.
Thank you, good luck.
Thank you so much.
Enric Mas: “It was the worst day of this Vuelta”
In this way, the second place on the podium will go to the Australian cyclist, who made the most of the lead he gained in a breakaway that allowed him to fight for the general classification, something that few would have bet on.
However, in the peloton was Slovenian Primoz Roglic, determined to regain victory with the Vuelta’s overall standings. And so he did. equaling the record of victories held by Spaniard Roberto Heras. Four laps for the Slovenian, who considered it “madness” to think of a fifth victory.
02.02 min Full Transcript
he held on to the wheel.
What the best forces can do
and live with regularity.
This year we have seen risks.
In the Tour he has attacked slightly but, above all,
The team’s discipline was different and I think
that this approach has been postponed to next year.
-(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
He says it was tough, but we did it.
It was a very fast race but I’m happy.
(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
They ask him about Küng and he says that he is very
strong in this type of time trials.
(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
And he has tried but it is a race against time.
that has become hard.
Who wants to congratulate you on the victory you have achieved.
And now he is enjoying the moment.
(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
He says he has no words
so that all the runners are from the same country,
those who have won the grand tours.
(SPEAKS IN ENGLISH)
He says that in the end,
To achieve such a victory, many sacrifices have to be made,
Not only him, his family too.
And he is happy to have achieved it.
I also did,
He is grateful for the support he has received from everyone.
Would five be nice?
He says it’s never really enough.
But that would be crazy,
He says that having done four is already crazy,
Roglic: “It was tough, but I’m happy”
Küng’s most anticipated triumph
Swiss Küng, a specialist in races against the clock, has scored his first victory in a grand tour by stages after marking a perfect race and a time of 26:28 minutes, at an average of 55.755 kilometers per hour.
Second was the red jersey winner, Primoz Roglic, who crossed the finish line 31 seconds behind the Swiss, while Italian Mattia Cattaneo finished third at 41.
