Tour of Spain – Roglic won, Roglic was reassured but the biggest doubts remain to be swept away for the triple holder – Eurosport FR

There is something almost natural in seeing Primoz Roglic don the red jersey at the Vuelta. The Slovenian has felt so comfortable in the Spanish event for three years that he has adopted his habits there: winning, taking the red jersey, not letting go and triumphing in Madrid (or Santiago de Compostela ). And 2022 is no exception to the rule for the moment. Barely four days of racing and here he is already leader of the Tour of Spain, with a stage victory at stake, plus success in the team time trial. A dream start for the one who had approached the event in the uncertainty surrounding his condition. The least we can say is that he reassured on this one. Especially in Laguardia, where he brilliantly triumphed for the 10th time in his career in the Vuelta.Tour of SpainAnd Alaphilippe stuck: “I didn’t have the legs”14 HOURS AGO Always better to have a few seconds of advance than to be a few seconds behind”The pace was very high all day, it was a super fast stage, he says. In the final, there was a chance to play for the stage victory, I had the legs, so I gave it my all.” Simple and efficient. In interviews like on a bike. In the final climb (900m at 8.6%), the Slovenian was imperial to get ahead of Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) or Mas (Movistar). Above all, he gleaned 13” of bonuses on Tuesday, allowing him to widen the gap with the competition a little more. “You know, it’s only the start of the Vuelta but it’s definitely better to be a few seconds ahead than to be a few seconds behind,” he admitted after his victory. Here he is, already, 26” ahead of Sivakov or Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers), 27” over Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), 33” over Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers), 51” over Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco) and 52” on Mas (Movistar). It’s little, and a lot at the same time. Frantic pace, Alaphilippe in the background, Roglic in demonstration: The summary of the 4th stage His lead is certainly greater than that of 2021 or 2020 when he took the jersey (25 ” last year, 5” in 2020) but he had taken charge from the 1st day in Arrate two years ago. Above all, Roglic rarely lost his red tunic once he grabbed it. In 2019, he had not let go and had even widened the gap with his runner-up, Alejandro Valverde (from 1’52 ” to 2’16 ”). What to think that the Vuelta is – already – folded? The recent past of cycling and that of Roglic himself could leave him fearful. But 2022 doesn’t have much to do with 2019. Be it at the level of his opponents but, above all, with regard to the Slovenian himself. Without forgetting that the example of Pogacar on the last Tour de France, overpowered in the first week before cracking on the first mountain stage, is recent enough to stay in everyone’s mind. The second week in real revelation See Roglic win at Laguardia on a final stage like this is certainly reassuring but has nothing to do with an exploit or a performance likely to remove all doubts about him. It was a short effort, the type of effort the Jumbo-Visma leader will always perform on, injury-free. Even if he spent long weeks without getting on his bike after his retirement from the Tour. On the other hand, this “abstinence” could end up being paid for later in the event. When the race days start to feel in the organisms. When we approach the real mountain stages. Pacher: “Roglic has shown that he has been the boss since the start of the Vuelta”If ​​his victory reassured him about his current form, the first big test for Roglic will indeed be Thursday, the sequence of the Collado de Brenes ( 1st cat) and Pico Jano (1st cat): about twenty kilometers of ascent in the last 36 of the stage with a final climb which will offer a first long effort and half an hour of ascent. We will have a first real idea of ​​the Roglic to be expected at the end of this 6th stage. But it is quite possible that the Slovenian will be in red next Tuesday, after the time trial in Alicante. See you on Thursday? The sequence of days, the accumulation of kilometers and the climbs which will lengthen in the second week (19.8km for Penas Blancas, 19km for the Pandera and 19.4km for the Nevada) could then see a Roglic lacking land. Even more on high altitude passes like the Sierra Nevada and its 2501m. In Laguardia, the Slovenian swept away his opponents to take a substantial and undeniable advantage in the general standings. But the doubts are not yet. For that, we will still have to wait. At least until Thursday.Roglic has fun: “Every day, we exchange the red jersey” at Jumbo-VismaTour of SpainThe King of Spain is dashing: Roglic takes the bouquet and the jersey17 AGO HOURSTour of SpainAlaphilippe, Roglic, Hayter… who will win the 4th stage? The prognosis of our consultants18 HOURS AGO