Defending champion Roglic wins fourth Vuelta stage

After a guest appearance in the Netherlands at the start, defending champion Primoz Roglic won the first stage of the 77th Vuelta on Spanish soil.

After 152.5 kilometres from Victoria to Laguardia, the professional cyclist from Slovenia took a commanding lead ahead of former world champion Mads Pedersen from Denmark and Spaniard Enric Mas. Roglic also took the lead in the overall standings. The 32-year-old had won the stage race in each of the last three years.

• Here is a detailed report on stage 4 of the Vuelta 2022

The fifth stage of the Tour of Spain also leads through the Basque Country on Wednesday. On the 187.2 kilometres from Irun to Bilbao, the Alto del Vivero has to be conquered twice in the final stage. The 4.6 kilometre climb is in the second category and has an average gradient of eight per cent. The finale is likely to be too difficult for the sprinters.

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