Vuelta 2021: Roglic climbs back into red at Lagos de Covadonga

foto: Cor VosEgan Bernal and Primoz Roglic strike with 60 kilometres remaining. The Slovene goes solo inside the last 8 kilometres and rides back into the red jersey on the finish climb to the Lagos de Covadonga. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 17th stage Vuelta a España 2021

1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 1.35
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
4. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
5. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
6. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
7. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
8. Gino Mäder (swi) s.t.
9. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 2.29
10. Clément Champoussin (fra) + 2.44

12. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 2.47
15. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 4.46
23. Odd Christian Eiking (nor) + 9.23

GC after stage 17
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.22
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.11
4. Jack Haig (aus) + 3.46
5. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 4.16
6. Egan Bernal (col) + 4.29
7. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.45
8. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 5.04
9. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 6.54
10. Gino Mäder (swi) + 6.58

11. Odd Christian Eiking (nor) + 7.59

Race report
In a very fast opening the peloton is still together just before the Collada Llomena. Then a group of 30 riders jumps clear. Among them Michael Storer, Dylan van Baarle, Olivier Le Gac, Jan Tratnik and Sergio Henao.

In the last kilometre of the climb Mikel Landa bridges across to the lead group. Storer is the first rider at the summit.

Olivier Le Gac goes solo while the other attackers are caught by the peloton. The Frenchman is also reeled in in the second ascent of the Collada Llomena. Moments later red jersey Eiking loses contact.

Bernal strikes 4.5 kilometres before the summit. Roglic follows him like a shadow. The others stay where they are.

The two reach the summit 42 seconds ahead of the group Mas/López. Eiking is 2 minutes in arrears and as he crashes on descent his chances to retain La Roja reduce to zero.

Bernal and Roglic extend their lead to more than 2 minutes before it goes down to 1.30 minutes at the foot of the finish climb.

Roglic heads out alone with 7.5 kilometres to go, while López strikes on the lower slopes. Mas, Yates, Kuss, Haig and Mäder bridge across to the Colombian before continuing towards the back wheel of that other Colombian, Bernal.

Meanwhile, Roglic climbs back into the red jersey and 1.35 minutes later his team mate Kuss sprints to second place.

Another interesting read: route 17th stage 2021 Vuelta.