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Roglic wins overall classification in the Tour of the Basque Country

In a tough and final stage, Roglic managed to hold on and defend his lead despite a heavy crash

Primoz Roglic and Team LottoNL-Jumbo have won the overall classification in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. For the 28-year-old Slovenian it is his third win of the season and his first win in a World Tour stage race. For Team LottoNL-Jumbo it is the tenth victory this spring

In the short stage with no less than eight climbs it was a real race from the beginning. After only two kilometres there was a massive crash in which also leader Roglic was involved. Roglic was brought back by his Team LottoNL-Jumbo teammates to the front peloton after which he got seriously tested by the competition. On the steep final climb, Roglic could no longer keep up with the attacking Landa, but he managed to secure the overall win. For Team LottoNL-Jumbo it is the second overall victory in a World Tour stage race. Last year George Bennett won the Tour of California.

“This was tougher than I and the team expected beforehand”, a visibly battered Roglic said. “Unfortunately I crashed hard, just after the neutral start. I have abrasions, but all in all it is not too bad. From that moment on, other teams went full gas and the race was on. It was difficult to get back in the front. The team has done an excellent job. I am very proud and grateful. In the end it was mainly a game of poker and I tried to not give them any impressions of how I felt on the bike. On the final climb I knew that I had secured the overall win because the climb was not too long. This was a main goal and I succeeded. In the future I hope to win even more of such a great stage races and who knows one day I can also do well in a Grand Tour.”

Sports director Grischa Niermann was very happy with the win. “This was an exciting and stressful stage. I am glad that it is finished and that we have won the overall with Primoz. I am proud of the team, how they all worked for each other throughout the day and week, but especially at Primoz how he stayed calm despite his heavy crash. The team has given one hundred percent to get him back in the front. As a result, Primoz was all by himself in the final, but he played it cool and nicely. My compliments for what the team has achieved this week. This is a team effort.”

2018 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco Top 15

1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) LottoNL-Jumbo 20:53:47 
2 Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:09 
3 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:42 
4 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:03:14 
5 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:03:17 
6 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors 0:03:29 
7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:03:50 
8 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:04:14 
9 David De La Cruz (Spa) Team Sky 0:04:15 
10 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:05:30 
11 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:05:34 
12 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates 0:06:29 
13 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:07:08 
14 Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:07:40 
15 Jesper Hansen (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:09:29

Roglic wins overall classification in the Tour of the Basque Country