Reduced to 18 stages, the 75th Vuelta a Espana kicked off today in the Basque Country and wasted no time in heading for the hills with a summit finish atop Arrate, which features each year in Itzulia (Tour of Basque Country). Defending champion and Jumbo Bee Primoz Roglic finished where he left off 13 months ago in the red leader’s jersey. His rocket-like counter-attack in the final 600 metres from a select leading group saw him solo across the line. Ineos’ Richard Carapaz finished runner-up and Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up) rounded out the podium.
