There may not have been a stage win or a red jersey waiting for him atop the Puerto de Ancares, but this still had all the feel of a vintage Primož Roglič afternoon at the Vuelta a España. The wickedly steep slopes of the ascent clearly lent themselves to his talents, and the Slovenian responded by doing what he’s been doing as a matter of routine on this race since 2019.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe first advertised their leader’s intentions by setting a supersonic pace from the foot of the Ancares. Then, as the gradient bit in earnest, Roglič steadily dialled up the heat, burning all-comers off his wheel and striding ever closer to final overall victory in Madrid. So it goes.
