Primož Roglič delivered a commanding performance on Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España, taking the race lead with a solo victory atop Alto de Moncalvillo. His move comes as the Slovenian edges closer to securing his fourth Vuelta title, with only two stages left to race. Roglič now sits 1 minute and 54 seconds ahead of Ben O’Connor, who had led for 13 days but couldn’t match Roglič’s strength on the day’s final climb.
The 173.5km stage, which began in Logroño, saw an aggressive start with multiple teams vying for a breakaway. However, it soon became apparent that the general classification contenders would be the main players in the finale. After an early group established a lead, it was Team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe who controlled the race, keeping the breakaway within reach.
As the race hit the lower slopes of the Alto de Moncalvillo, Roglič’s team took charge. Dani Martínez and Aleksandr Vlasov led their leader to the front, setting a punishing pace that splintered the peloton. With just under five kilometres remaining, Roglič attacked, leaving behind all rivals. Enric Mas was the only rider who tried to follow but was unable to maintain the pace as Roglič stormed up the climb.
“I tried to stay with Primož, but I knew it was over,” Mas said after the stage. The Spaniard, who finished fourth, described how his legs gave out in the final kilometres. “For a while, I was managing it well, but in the end, I was empty, and two riders came past me.”
David Gaudu and Mattias Skjelmose both overtook Mas in the final 100 metres, with Gaudu securing second place and Skjelmose third, 46 seconds behind Roglič. Mas crossed the line a further four seconds adrift, visibly fatigued after his efforts.
For O’Connor, it was a difficult day. The Australian struggled to stay with the group of favourites on the final climb and finished 1:49 behind Roglič, relinquishing the red jersey but holding onto second overall. “I was a bit broken at the end there,” O’Connor admitted. “I actually felt pretty good until about halfway up, and then just… it’s stage 19, I guess.”
Reflecting on the day’s events, O’Connor acknowledged the superiority of Roglič and his team. “I just didn’t expect myself to be so bad at the end,” he said, adding that he was already looking ahead to some rest after the gruelling race. “Right now, I’m thinking about Monday and having beers and sitting on the terrace.”
Roglič now heads into Stage 20, a brutal mountain stage with seven categorised climbs, in a dominant position. With Enric Mas sitting third overall, 2:20 behind, the race looks set to be a fight for the remaining podium spots. Mas, already a three-time runner-up in the Vuelta, acknowledged the challenge ahead: “The objective is to win, but we have to be aware that Primož is now 2:20 ahead of me. We’ll try to go for second place.”
2024 Vuelta a Espana Stage 19 result
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Main photo credit: Getty
