Els Cortals (Andorra) (AFP)
Slovenian prodigy Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Emirates) on Sunday won the 9th stage of the Tour of Spain at the top of Alto Els Cortals in Encamp, Andorra, after a devastating day when Colombian Nairo Quintana dispossessed Frenchman Nicolas Edet from the red jersey.
In a stage disrupted by a storm of rain and hail, Pogacar (20 years) has emerged alone, marking the spirits from his first participation in a grand tour. The Slovenian has even become the youngest stage winner on the Vuelta since the Spanish Celestino Prieto in 1981, according to the statistician Gracenote.
He finished ahead of Quintana (Movistar), winner of the Tour of Spain in 2016, and his compatriot Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), third. Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), who was unsuccessful on the offensive at the end of the stage, stuck in the final climb to finish one minute behind the winner.
After nine days of racing and on the eve of the first rest day Monday in Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), the general classification is tighter than ever between Quintana and Slovenian Roglic, second only 6 seconds and favorite of the only Individual time trial of this Vuelta, scheduled for Tuesday between Jurançon and Pau (36.2 km).
© 2019 AFP