Primoz Roglic tightened his grip on the Vuelta a Espana, while Jakob Fuglsang earned a solo triumph in stage 16 yesterday. Jumbo-Visma rider Roglic extended his lead in the overall standings to two minutes 48 seconds after his closest rival, Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, lost 23 seconds on the Slovenian in the spectacular Asturian mountains.
Astana rider Fuglsang finished in four hours, one minute, 22 seconds for his first Grand Tour stage win. The Danish rider’s chances in the Tour de France were ruined by two crashes with Astana saying he was in the form of his career. Fuglsang emerged from the 21-rider breakaway to leave his opponents behind and claim a lone triumph.
British Team Ineos cyclist Tao Geoghegan Hart came in second, 22 seconds behind Fuglsang, after finishing third in Stage 15 on Sunday.
Another Astana rider, Luis Leon Sanchez, took third ahead of Deceuninck-QuickStep Briton James Knox. “It feels great,” said Fuglsang. “It was one of my goals to come here but it’s one thing to have a goal and another to fulfil it. I’m super happy to have this win.”
Riders attacked from the start in a constant battle for the break at the start of the 144.4km route between Pravia and Alto de la Cubilla. Roglic and his rivals were several minutes behind the breakaway group, with the Slovenian reacting to several attacks from Miguel Angel Lopez and Tadej Pogacar.
Movistar rider Valverde struggled and Pogacar gained on him, with the Slovenian now 54 seconds behind in the Spaniard in the general classification. Stage 17 takes place on Wednesday after a rest day, with the 219.6km between Aranda del Duero and Guadalajara the longest stage of the Vuelta.

Vuelta a Espana 
16th stage results
1. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 4hr 01min 22sec, 2. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/INEOS) at 22sec, 3. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/AST) 40, 4. James Knox (GBR/DEC) 42, 5. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA/TRE) 1:12, 6. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 2:09, 7. Mikel Bizkarra (ESP/EUS) 2:15, 8. Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (ERI/DIM) 2:21 9. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/DEC) 2:32, 10. Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA/AG2R) same time.
General Classification: 1. Primoz Roglic (SLO/JUM) 62hrs 17min 52sec, 2. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) at 2min 48 sec, 3. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE) 3:42, 4. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/AST) 3:59, 5. Rafal Majka (POL/BOR) 7:40, 6. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 7:43, 7. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 10:27, 8. Wilco Kelderman (NED/SUN) 10:34, 9. Carl Fredrik Hagen (NOR/LOT) 10:40, 10. Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT/BAH) 12:05

Groenewegen wins Tour 
of Britain’s third stage
Dylan Groenewegen turned on the power in an uphill sprint finish to clinch victory in the Tour of Britain’s third stage between Berwick and Newcastle yesterday.
The Dutch Jumbo-Visma rider crossed the line comfortably ahead of compatriot Mathieu van der Poel of Corendon-Circus, Davide Cimolai, an Italian with Israeli cycling academy, and Jumbo-Visma leadout man Mike Teunissen, following the 500-metre uphill drag.
Groenewegen also took the first stage between Glasgow and Kirkcudbright.
Matteo Trentin, an Italian with Mitchelton Scott placed fifth to retain the overall leader’s green jersey. Cimolai is seven seconds behind, with Van Der Poel third, 11 seconds off the front.
Team Ineos’ Ben Swift is the leading British rider in seventh place, 17 seconds down on the leader.
Today’s fourth stage runs from Gateshead to finish at Beast Banks in Kendal and will feature nearly 3,000 metres of climbing.