the slovenian primoz roglic (Jumbo-Visma) is the leader of the Itzulia Basque Country 2022, after winning the first stage this Monday, an individual time trial with start and finish in Hondarribia, which also had the Ecuadorians Jefferson Cepeda and Jonathan Caicedo.
Roglic, current champion of the Basque round, toured the 7.5 kilometers from the stage in 9 minutes 48 seconds, beating the Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), which set the second fastest time and to french Remi Cavagna (Quick-Step), which was third.
Although Remco Evenepoel had broken the clock to overtake Ineos riders Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates, fourth and fifth respectively, he was ultimately unable to get past Roglic.
Belgian and Slovenian set the same time at the halfway point with 4 minutes 27 seconds, but Roglic was faster in the second part of a route that included a small third category climb.
“It has been a very technical time trial, but he had good legs. It was a ten minute effort so there couldn’t be big differences in the endbut it’s good to have a small advantage, even if I don’t want to say anything, there’s still a long way to go”, said Roglic after his victory.
The participation of national runners had to Cepeda (Rural Fund-RGA Insurance) as the best of the day by placing in position 117, at 1 minute 5 seconds of Roglic, while Caicedo (EF Education-EasyPost) occupied the box 132, at 1 minute 12 seconds from the Slovenian
Slovenian Roglic leads the general five seconds ahead of Evenepoel and 16 on Cavagna. They completed the top 10 of the day the British Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers), the Russian Alexander Vlašov (Bora-hansgrohe), who are in fourth, fifth and sixth place at 18 seconds, the Spanish Ion Izaguirre (Cofidis), the French Bruno Admiral (Groupama-FDJ) and the Danish jonas vingegaard, 20 seconds behind in seventh, eighth, and ninth place, respectively. Tenth was the British Ben Tulett (Ineos), 21 seconds behind the winner.
“We knew that it was going to be a kind of lottery because it was a very short route and very technical. I have nothing to be sorry about,” said Evenepoel.
“I pedaled as fast as I could, but there was a guy behind who pedaled faster. Tomorrow will be another day. Winning this race is going to be difficult with people like Roglicbut we will do everything possible to be on the podium”, added the 22-year-old Belgian.
Roglic could not have started in a better way the assault on his third Itzulia, after winning the 2018 and 2021 editions, something that only the Swiss Tony Rominger and the Irishman Sean Kelly have achieved. Four, those who have achieved the most, were achieved by the Spaniards José Antonio González Linares and Alberto Contador.
The second stage, which takes place this Tuesday, is the longest of the race and will run through Navarran lands. A total 207.9 kilometers between Leiza and Viana with three scoring stopsone from second and two from third, and a propitious arrival to arrive in a group with many runners.
The race will run in six stages, ending in Arrate, on Saturday. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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