Primoz Roglic PENALIZED! La Vuelta victory contender takes 20-second penalty over extensive drafting

Monday, 02 September 2024 at 09:55

This Vuelta a España is on fire and the jury has made things even closer. Primoz Roglic gained 38 seconds on Ben O'Connor at the Cuitu Negru climb today; but he has just received a 20-second penalty after spending an excessive amount of time behind the team car after a bike change.

This is not a completely shocking decision from the race commissaires after the race footage made it clear that the bike change was a planned move. The Slovenian changed bikes into a single-chainring machine ahead of the final climb and then made his way back to the peloton.

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He had two teammates with him but on his way back he spent significant time drafting behind his team car. The large amount of time, combined with the fact that he did not suffer any mechanical issue, led to the decision of ultimately adding 20 seconds to his time in the race. Whilst not a race-ending difference, it certainly delivers a small blow - perhaps more psychologically - to the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider who is hunting down the red jersey.

With this decision, Roglic only managed to take 18 seconds back on Ben O'Connor in the hardest climb of the race, and now continues to have over a minute to recover with only three mountain stages - and a time-trial to take it back. The Slovenian continues to be the main favourite to win the race but in the high mountains he is not having the capacity to make the same difference as in the more explosive ascents. He sees his gap to Enric Mas also reduced to 1:20, something which can very realistically still be closed in the final week.

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7 Comments

PAULO 03 September 2024 at 20:20+ 344

ok... my take.. for the same Nibali was disqualified. Same thing.. different rules.. just saying. Was way to much.. 20 seconds was a bonus...

santiagobenites 02 September 2024 at 19:58+ 1754

You're right. 20 seconds was a well deserved penalty, and he's fortunate that it wasn't more, especially considering that it was completely his choice to stop for a different bike.

frieders3 03 September 2024 at 20:33+ 1254

Nibali was DQ'd for HOLDING onto team car !

"Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) has been ejected from the Vuelta a España after television pictures showed that he held onto a team car while chasing back on following a crash in the final 30 kilometres of stage 2 to Caminito del Rey."

PAULO 02 September 2024 at 08:03+ 344

And they all do that with bottles. And Nibali was after a crash and hold the car for 100 meters. Just saying...

frieders3 03 September 2024 at 20:32+ 1254

Only Nibali held on for 100+ m … they don’t do that now a days

Acapulco 03 September 2024 at 20:32+ 39

It was not "for the same", Roglic it was drafting, not holding to a car who accelerated furiously, so your comment is baseless.

Pogboom 04 September 2024 at 22:19+ 225

Roglic didn't crash - he stopped to change bikes to give himself an advantage on the climb.

Roglic changed to a bike with lower gearing making it harder to chase on the flats. Hence he needed the car drafting to help catch up.

20 second penalty was nothing.

Set aside any bias - what if any other rider did this? Ben O'Connor, or Richard Carapaz, or Enric Mas, or Mikel Landa? It would be understandable (as they are nowhere near Roglic climbing ability) but it would still be wrong.

Too bad if (when) Roglic wins, his win will be tainted by this incident. There will be people out there who will say he cheated.

The sad thing is that he probably could've won without doing this. What made him risk his legacy by doing something so silly?

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Apr 24, 18:45

Primoz Roglic PENALIZED! La Vuelta victory contender takes 20-second penalty over extensive drafting

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