At the end of a very calm day which got carried away in the last kilometers with the acceleration of "Rogla" on the outskirts of Seville, Pedersen was ahead of Pascal Ackermann (UAE) and Danny van Poppel (Bora) on the line.

"I promised my team to win today. I didn't expect Roglic to attack. I had to use all my energy to come back," the Dane said after the stage. .

The green jersey won its second stage on the 2022 edition and consolidates its jersey a little more, now with a 220 point lead over its runner-up Fred Wright five days from the finish in Madrid.

And through him, Danish cycling continues to shine this season.

After the start from Copenhagen of the Tour de France in July won by his compatriot Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo), the 2019 world champion could become the first Danish rider to win a distinctive jersey in the Vuelta.

But on arrival, all eyes were on Roglic, who may have said goodbye to his dreams of a fourth title in a row in Madrid by wanting to dynamite an incredible end to the stage in Tomares.

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Bloody thigh and elbow

The Slovenian parasitized the massive sprint at the end of the stage, attacking three kilometers from the finish in the only bump of the Andalusian route which confused the whole peloton and the red jersey Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step) .

Only Pedersen, Pascal Ackermann, Danny van Poppel and Fred Wright (Bahrain) managed to follow the leader of the Jumbo to settle a sprint in a small committee.

Not strong enough to play for victory against the four sprint specialists, the Slovenian then fell violently in the last hundred meters, hitting the rear wheel of a competitor.

"I didn't hear (the fall). I wanted to talk to him, but I saw that he was badly hurt and his clothes were in tatters. It's very sad that he fell. He hasn't been lucky this year. I hope he can keep fighting for the victory in the Vuelta," commented Pedersen.

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The triple defending champion got up with his right thigh and right elbow bleeding.

Roglic is "clearly injured", said the Jumbo team in a first press release without further details, before suggesting, in a second press release in the evening, that the Slovenian could throw in the towel.

Decision Wednesday morning

"All the examinations were carried out on Tuesday. Tomorrow morning, the team will decide after consulting his doctor if Primoz will continue to fight in the Vuelta", warned the Dutch formation.

With his gamble which could cost him dearly, the Slovenian only regained eight small seconds in the general standings at Evenepoel.

At the same time, "the little cannibal" punctured 2.5 kilometers from the finish.

However, a rule stipulates that when a rider is the victim of a fall or a technical problem less than three kilometers from the finish, his time is based on that of the peloton in which he appeared before the incident.

"I'm happy that the 3 km rule exists. I was not in the best position at the end of the stage when Roglic attacked. I moved to get back in position and I had a flat wheel. I'm pretty happy not to lose too much time," said Evenepoel, relieved after the race.

In the general classification, the 22-year-old Belgian thus retains 1 m 26 sec ahead of Roglic and 2 min 01 sec ahead of Enric Mas (Movistar).

On Wednesday, the peloton tackles a tricky stage between Aracena and the Monastery of Tentudia, the hilly course of which could be favorable to breakaways and punchers.

With or without Roglic?

© 2022 AFP