Roglic wins stage to close on Vuelta leader O'Connor

Three-time Vuelta a Espana victor Primoz Roglic claimed triumph connected shape 8 to adjacent nan spread connected overall leader Ben O'Connor by astir a minute.

Saturday's shape concluded pinch a class 3 climb to nan finish, connected which Roglic battled it retired pinch Spain's Enric Mas.

The Slovenian, 34, raced distant successful nan last 200m to declare his second shape triumph of this year's race.

O'Connor struggled to enactment pinch his wide classification rivals connected nan crisp uphill decorativeness and nan Australian came successful 17th, pinch his lead complete Roglic being trim to 3 minutes 49 seconds.

"I was suffering," said Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider Roglic, who attacked 3 times connected nan gruelling climb to Cazorla.

"It was difficult today, but successful nan extremity I went for it. It was hard, hot; I was fortunate I had nan legs to return it today.

"We will bask [chasing O'Connor] but possibly I will suffer again 10 seconds tomorrow."

Title contender Joao Almeida struggled acold much successful nan last stages of nan 158.7km way from Ubeda, finishing 4 minutes 53 seconds down Roglic to driblet from 3rd to 26th successful GC.

Movistar rider Mas has risen to 3rd overall, trailing O'Connor of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale by 4 minutes 31 seconds.

An eight-man breakaway formed aft nan 50km people and was reeled successful by nan pursuit group pinch 1.5km remaining, pinch Roglic and Mas scrapping for nan shape win.

The title continues successful nan Sierra Nevada connected Sunday, pinch a 178.5km upland way from Motril to Granada.

1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) 3hrs 38mins 34secs

2. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) Same time

3. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +14secs

4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +17secs

5. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +21secs

6. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time

7. Harold Tejada (Col/Astana-Qazaqstan) +24secs

8. Eddie Dunbar (Ire/Jayco-AlUla) +26secs

9. Lennert van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto-Dstny) +29secs

10. Jack Haig (Aus/Bahrain Victorious) Same time

1. Ben O'Connor (Aus/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) 31hrs 23mins 27secs

2. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) +3mins 49secs

3. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +4:31

4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +5:00

5. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +5:13

6. Lennert van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto-Dstny) +5:15

7. Cristian Rodriguez (Spa/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +5:19

8. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +5:24

9. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) +5:25

10. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +5:26