IRELAND’S DAN MARTIN finished third, as Primoz Roglic powered clear of Richard Carapaz to win the eighth stage of the Vuelta a Espana — and close the gap on Carapaz in the overall classification.
Slovenia’s Roglic absorbed a late attack from Carapaz and then pulled away to cross the line 13 seconds ahead of his Ecuadorian rival, with Martin crossing the line in third place today (4:07.27).
The race’s top four are separated by less than a minute, although Roglic’s gutsy victory means he cuts the cap behind Carapaz from 30 seconds to 13.
Riding the crest of a wave after a stage victory, two third-place and one fourth-place finish, Martin is 28 seconds off the lead in third while Hugh Carthy is fourth, 44 seconds back and Movistar’s Enric Mas completes the front five almost two minutes behind.
Roglic prevailed after a monumental effort on the Vuelta’s first ever finish on the category one climb of Alto de Moncalvillo, coming at the end of a twisting 164km ride beginning in Logrono.
“It was quite a boring, slow start but the pace went up and it was super fast and harder after the second to last climb,” said Roglic.
“On the last climb, it was actually the first time I’d done it in my life. I didn’t know it, only all I could see from the profile was that it was a hard climb.
“But then it’s a good opportunity, you have to go if you want to win. It was more going with my feeling.”
Roglic looked up to the sky and thrust both his arms in the air as he sailed over the line. “I always like to win, so if there is a small opportunity I will take it,” he added.
“It was super hard today and luckily I had the legs and I’m happy to win the stage. It’s nice to get some time back but most of all it’s nice to win the race.”
Meanwhile, Sam Bennett finished 144th today in 4:33.56 and sits 138th in the general classification.
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