Fuglsang claims Vuelta stage

I pulled a few seconds back, and that’s a good thing

JAKOB Fuglsang rules Stage 16 of Vuelta a España. AFP

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Dane Jakob Fuglsang soloed to a summit-finish win on Stage 16 of the Vuelta a España while Slovenian Primoz Roglic extended his advantage at the top of the overall standings.

Fuglsang broke away late on the final climb into the thick clouds at 1,600meters altitude in northern Spain.

Promising 24-year-old Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart of Ineos came close for a second straight day, digging in to finish second on the third stage in the spectacular Cantabrian Mountains.

Protecting a sizeable overall lead, Roglic ended up stretching his advantage by 23 seconds over his closest challenger Alejandro Valverde to two minutes and 48 seconds with just five stages to go.

The former ski jumper took advantage of a last-climb struggle for the best young rider’s white jersey between Miguel Angel Lopez and Tadeo Paccar who are also fourth and third in the overall standings.

Lopez launched a series of aggressive assaults with Paccar stoically sticking to his wheel. Roglic did likewise as the 39-year-old Valverde eventually wilted as the race rose into the cloud-line and the temperatures plunged.

“I pulled a few seconds back, and that’s a good thing,” said fourth-placed Lopez, who earned the nickname ‘”Superman” after fighting off knife-wielding thieves who wanted his bike during a junior race.