2022 season, Grand Tours, Race Analysis, Stage races, Vuelta a España

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 4 – Rojo Rogla takes the stage and GC lead

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The 2022 edition of La Vuelta a Espana continued on Stage 4, and so too did the glorious Primoz Roglic Spanish love story. As the race hit the mainland following the Dutch Grand Depart, the punchier riders got their first shot at victory. Roglic dominated the field, despite Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl) looking pleasantly active earlier in the stage. Trek’s Mads Pedersen and Movistar’s Enric Mas finished second and third behind the man who will now be the fourth Jumbo-Visma rider to wear the Red Jersey at this edition of the race. Red Rogla is back and it feels so good!

On Spanish soil

A lumpy stage through the beautiful province of Alava would hopefully see an explosive finish to the day, but it was to be determined on the road whether that finale would belong to the breakaway or if the GC contenders wanted their first battle royale.

A group of six riders got away from the peloton early on in the stage, but Bora-hansgrohe, Jumbo-Visma and eventually Quick-Step never let that elastic snap. With the gap only ever reaching 2’25”, it was clear the GC boys had intentions for the punchy finish.

Bonus Seconds atop Puerto de Herrera

To spice up the closing kilometres, La Vuelta organisers placed bonus seconds atop the final Category 3 climb of the day, Puerto de Herrera, just 15km out from the finish line. The perfect set up for a surprise attack over the top, perhaps for a crazy/good descender to take a jump on anyone napping before the finish. Who could that be???

After a year of rotten luck, injury and COVID, it was awesome to see LouLou back and attacking again!

Alas, another VeloVoices fave (and the rest of the riders left, but meh) would not be caught out on this occasion, catching Alaphilippe and overtaking him for the 3-second bonus points.

With no one making it away from the peloton, a large group hit the final, narrow slopes to the line. There are not many riders stronger than Primoz Roglic when it comes to an uphill sprint. While Mads Pedersen pushed him very close, there was no one who could outdo the Slovenian on this occasion.

After breaking two vertebrae at the Tour de France, I think I speak on behalf of us all when I say – Its amazing to have you back, Rogla! <3

We look forward to tomorrow, when Sepp Kuss makes it 5 from 5 – obviously.

The Last Word

Just Tadej Pogacar slaying Dan Martin on Twitter. That is all.

Results

Stage 4 results

1 Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 3:31:05

2 Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segando) same time

3 Enric Mas (Movistar) s/t

4 Quentin Pacher (Groupama FDJ) s/t

5 Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) s/t

GC Top 10

1 Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma)11:50:59

2 Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma) +0:13

3 Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) +0:26

4 Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) s/t

5 Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers) s/t

6 Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +0:27

7 Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) +0:33

8 Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) s/t

9 Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) +0:34

10 Simon Yates (Team Bike Exchange) +0:51

All the Jerseys

 

Leader’s jersey : Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma)

Points jersey : Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe)

King of the Mountains jersey : Joan Bou (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Young Rider Jersey : Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers)

Team competition : INEOS Grenadiers

For the full stage review, go to cyclingnews

Go here for the official La Vuelta website

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