Roglic triumphs alone on the final stage of Volta a Catalunya, locking in his overall classification victory
Primož Roglič Secures Victory at Volta a Catalunya 2022
Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič clinched the overall win at the Volta a Catalunya 2022, demonstrating his all-around strength in the time trial and mountain stages.
Roglič's decisive moment came in the final stages, where he built and maintained a time advantage that his rivals, including Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, could not overcome. His victories at the race are often characterised by strong time trial performances and impressive mountain climbs that create critical gaps with competitors.
In the final stage, Roglič opened a 20-second lead before the fast descent, a lead that he was able to maintain until the end. He won the stage 14 seconds clear of the chasers and 19 ahead of the peloton, securing the general classification for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Laurens De Plus finished second in the final stage, 14 seconds behind Roglic, while Lennert Van Eetvelt came in third. Mas, Landa, Laurance, and van Eetvelt formed a chase group with an 18-second gap. The chase group, including Ayuso, de Plus, and Egan Bernal, were unable to catch Roglič.
Enric Mas finished the race 53 seconds behind Roglič in the general classification. Juan Ayuso struggled on the final day and finished the race 28 seconds behind Roglič. Ayuso was swallowed up by the peloton with 13km to go.
The attack by Roglič with three laps to go of the stage proved decisive for his stage win. The race started to fracture with less than 40km to go, as riders tried to break away and open gaps. Roglič made a solo attack with 21km to go on the Montjuic, which he was able to hold until the finish line.
In addition to his stage win, Roglič also won the first intermediate bonus sprint on the final stage. Van Eetvelt secured the overall standings, points, and mountain classifications in the final stage. Nico Denz won the second intermediate bonus sprint, denying Ayuso the bonus seconds.
Roglič's victory at the Volta a Catalunya 2022 is a testament to his proficiency in time trials and climbing, skills that have also helped him excel in races such as the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. His strong performance on the decisive mountain stages combined with a commanding time trial effort sealed his overall win, establishing and maintaining a winning margin in the general classification.
Sports such as cycling have once again showcased the all-around strength of Primož Roglič, as he claimed the overall victory at the Volta a Catalunya 2022, thanks to his dominant performances in both the time trial and mountain stages. His decisive actions in the final stages, like the solo attack on the Montjuic, proved essential for winning the stage and the general classification for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
