ARACENA, Spain (AP) — Remco Evenepoel safely kept his Spanish Vuelta lead on Wednesday after three-time defending champion Primoz Roglic withdrew ahead of the 17th stage because of injuries.
Rigoberto Urán, the 35-year-old Colombian from team EF Education-EasyPost, prevailed on the final climb to win the stage and complete his treble of Grand Tour victories after previous stage triumphs in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
“I had been chasing it for many years,” Urán said. “When you already have victories in the Giro and in the Tour, and now in La Vuelta, as a rider for three-week events, it gives me a lot of happiness. Today is a very special day for me.”
He crossed the line two seconds ahead of Quentin Pacher and Jesús Herrada. Marc Soler was 15 seconds back in fourth place.
Roglic didn’t start after not recovering from his injuries sustained Tuesday in a crash 75 meters (82 yards) from the finish line while going for the victory in the 16th stage. The Slovenian from team Jumbo-Visma was seeking an unprecedented fourth straight Vuelta title.
Evenepoel finished in the group of riders who crossed the line five minutes behind Urán. The Belgian cyclist from team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl maintained a lead of more than two minutes over Enric Mas of team Movistar. Juan Ayuso was nearly five minutes back in third place.
“I think the race is as hard to control as it was with Primoz,” Evenepoel said. “But of course, on a finish like this, Primoz is a really explosive guy. I think now there is less danger from attacks like this because Enric is a bit less explosive than Primoz. I think that’s the main difference but that doesn’t make it easier, not at all.”
Roglic was 1 minute, 26 seconds behind Evenepoel before withdrawing.
“I think Enric tried to see how my legs were today but I could respond very well,” Evenepoel said. “The team brought me in a good position to the final climb. The speed was really high. It wasn’t an easy finish at all.”
Riders on Thursday will face a mountain stage with three major ascents on the way to another unprecedented summit finish at the Alto de Piornal.
The three-week race finishes on Sunday in Madrid.
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