"Nobody can hide" - Primoz Roglic on what may be decisive duel with Remco Evenepoel in Catalunya

Primoz Roglic has won stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya. Then he rode to second on the two following days, and managed to finally have a calm day in the race lead on stage 4. However, overnight the possibility of his leader's jersey landing on the shoulders of Remco Evenepoel must've ran through his mind

"After three tough days, a stage like today was welcome. The legs still felt a bit heavy after the hard work of the last few days. I was able to enjoy the scenery and the cycling fans today," Roglic said in a press release. As the sprinters had their way, Roglic managed to save his legs. He will need every watt possible to hold his lead at Lo Port this afternoon.

Remco Evenepoel made a tactical mistake on the summit finish to Vallter 2000 which saw him outsprinted to the line, but in La Molina he was evidently superior, creating the decisive gaps in the modestly steep climb, and despite having no collaboration, dropping Roglic in the ramp to the line. There he closed the six-second gap that Roglic built over the opening two days of the race, and the two are now tied in time.

The final ascent will be brutal and unlike the previous two days, one where the gradients will make it much harder to benefit from slipstreaming. It will be a true test in preparation to the Giro d'Italia. "Tomorrow, nobody can hide. The final will be gruelling again, and the best will come out on top. We are going for the best possible result. I'm expecting a nice and exciting duel," Roglic concluded.