“Get well soon, champion!“ Primož Roglič Abandons La Vuelta a España

By Monica Buck

The Slovenian was forced to abandon the Spanish Grand Tour as a result of injuries sustained in a crash on stage 16. The three-time winner of the race attacked yesterday with 2.5km to go but went down in the finale. Blood dripping from Roglič’s wounds was seen after yesterday’s finish.

Jumbo-Visma stated this morning: “Unfortunately, Primož Roglič will not be at the start of stage 17 as a consequence of yesterday’s crash. Get well soon, champion! Thank you for all the beautiful moments in this Vuelta. You had ambitious plans for the final days, but sadly it isn’t meant to be.”

Roglič sat in second overall, trailing 1:26 on Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl). The Jumbo-Visma rider was slowly getting closer and closer to the overall leader. Unfortunately, it’s not the first crash to mar his season. On stage five of the Tour, the 32-year-old struck a hay bale and was basically out of contention in the general classification. He was later forced to abandon due to severe back pain.

Had Roglič won this Vuelta, he would have become the first rider to win a Grand Tour four consecutive times since Miguel Indurain and the first ever to do so at La Vuelta.

Hope you get well soon, Primož!

General classification after stage 16

  1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) – 61:26:26
  2. Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) + 1:26
  3. Enric Mas (Movistar) + 2:01
  4. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) + 4:49
  5. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) + 5:16
  6. Miguel Ángel López (Astana Qazaqstan) + 5:24
  7. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 7:00
  8. Thymenn Arensman (Team DSM) + 7:05
  9. Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën Team) + 8:57
  10. Jai Hindley (BORA-Hansgrohe) + 11:36