Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España saw the riders tackle a 173-kilometer hilly race from Logroño to the summit finish at Alto de Moncalvillo. Starting in the heart of La Rioja’s wine country, the peloton navigated rolling terrain before facing the day’s two significant climbs. The final challenge, the Category 1 ascent to Alto de Moncalvillo, also served as the finish line, demanding everything from the climbers and overall contenders. With its steep slopes, this decisive climb set the stage for fierce attacks as the riders aimed to make their mark in the closing stages of the Vuelta.

Roglič Dominates Alto de Moncalvillo for Third Stage Win

Primož Roglič (RBH) dominated Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España, securing his third victory of this year’s race with an impressive time of 03h 54′ 55″. The Slovenian powerhouse conquered the brutal Alto de Moncalvillo climb with a 46-second lead over Frenchman David Gaudu (GFC), who crossed the line in 03h 55′ 41″, alongside Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose (LTK), who finished with the same time. Roglič’s commanding performance left little room for doubt as he left his rivals trailing behind on the final ascent.

This win marks Roglič’s third stage victory in the 2024 Vuelta, further cementing his status as one of the race’s top contenders. His exceptional effort on the final climb, where he gained 46 seconds over his closest competitors, demonstrated that Roglič is still in peak form and fully capable of fighting for the overall title. With the finish line in sight, Roglič sent a clear message that he is ready to seize control in the decisive stages ahead.

Roglič Reclaims Red Jersey

With this decisive victory, Primož Roglič has reclaimed the red jersey, taking a commanding lead of nearly two minutes over Ben O’Connor, who now sits in second place. O’Connor remains just 26 seconds ahead of Enric Mas, who holds third in the overall standings, setting up an intense fight for the podium in the final stages. In the best young rider classification, Mattias Skjelmose’s strong performance on the day propelled him to first place, overtaking Carlos Rodriguez as the race for the white jersey heats up heading into the final days of the Vuelta.

Epic Mountain Showdown Ahead: Seven Passes Set Stage for Climbers and Red Jersey Battle

Tomorrow’s stage promises to be an epic showdown, featuring an extremely difficult mountain route with seven punishing passes packed into a short but intense day of racing. The relentless climbs are sure to favor the pure climbers, and riders like Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, or Ben O’Connor will be gunning for victory. O’Connor, in particular, may seize this opportunity to try and reclaim the red jersey from Roglič, making this a crucial stage in the battle for the overall title. Expect fireworks as the top contenders push themselves to the limit.