{"id":287507,"date":"2023-09-13T18:36:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T18:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=287507"},"modified":"2023-09-13T18:36:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T18:36:07","slug":"primoz-roglic-beats-remco-evenepoel-to-win-eighth-stage-of-vuelta-a-espana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/cycling\/primoz-roglic-beats-remco-evenepoel-to-win-eighth-stage-of-vuelta-a-espana\/","title":{"rendered":"Primoz Roglic beats Remco Evenepoel to win eighth stage of Vuelta a Espana"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Slovenian Primoz Roglic powered past reigning champion Remco Evenepoel to win the eighth stage of the Vuelta a Espana after a tough fight on the climb to Xorret del Cati on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Roglic\u2019s Jumbo Visma team mate Sepp Kuss took the overall leader\u2019s red jersey after Lenny Martinez of Groupama-FDJ cracked near the finish of the 165km stage from Denia.<\/p>\n
Kuss is the first American to lead a Grand Tour since Chris Horner at LA Vuelta in 2013.<\/p>\n
The peloton reeled in four breakaway riders at the start of the brutal final climb and battle commenced amongst the general classification contenders with Jumbo Visma again dominant.<\/p>\n
Kuss was the first to attack before Belgium\u2019s Evenepoel (Soudal Quick Step) took it on over the summit on the downhill race to the finish line.<\/p>\n
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Evenepoel was unable to hold off three-time Vuelta winner Roglic in the final sprint to the line but looked strong as he came home in second place with Spain\u2019s Juan Ayuso third.<\/p>\n
Danish co-favourite Jonas Vingegaard, also of Jumbo Visma, was fifth with Kuss seventh.<\/p>\n
With Frenchman Martinez more than a minute behind at the finish, Kuss now leads the standings by 43 seconds from Spain\u2019s Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) and one minute from Martinez.<\/p>\n
Evenepoel, Roglic and Vingegaard are well-placed in sixth, seventh and eighth places, around two and a half minutes behind Kuss but with two weeks of racing still to go.<\/p>\n
Anyone assuming Kuss will just revert to his role of supporting more illustrious team mates may have to reconsider as the American again showed great legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always hope for the best. The guys did a really amazing job, controlling the really strong breakaway. Then we had no option in the end,\u201d Giro d\u2019Italia winner Roglic said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn the sprint it\u2019s always a bit of a gamble but I had the legs and I could do it. At least three (Jumbo-Visma leaders) now, no? But maybe there\u2019s still someone coming!\u201d<\/p>\n
More mountains are in store on Sunday with a 184-km route starting in Cartagena.<\/p>\n