Roglic wins first mountain stage to take Vuelta lead

Three-time champion Primoz Roglic won nan first upland shape of this year's Vuelta a Espana to declare nan title leader's reddish jersey.

The Slovenian edged past Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) connected nan statement to clinch Tuesday's 4th shape aft a gruelling 14km climb to Pico Villuercas successful searing heat.

Belgium's Van Eetvelt celebrated what would person been a first Grand Tour shape triumph excessively early, throwing 1 limb successful nan aerial conscionable arsenic Roglic overtook him.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's Roglic was 30 seconds down wide classification leader Wout van Aert aft nan opening 3 stages.

But nan Belgian vanished much than 16 minutes backmost connected Tuesday's 170km route, allowing Roglic to return nan wide lead.

"It was not nan main nonsubjective of nan time [to triumph nan stage]," Roglic told Eurosport.

"But erstwhile you spot nan guys fighting difficult successful this power I was happy to decorativeness it off."

Portugal's Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) vanished 3rd connected nan shape and is 2nd overall, trailing Roglic by 8 seconds.