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Roglic victorious in País Vasco time trial

Primoz Roglic won the final day’s time trial, his second stage victory, to close out the País Vasco today in Eibar. In the 27.7-kilometre hilly stage, the Slovenian beat Alejandro Valverde by nine seconds and moved to fifth in the final standings behind winner Valverde. Team-mate George Bennett finished 10th for the day and 11th overall.

Roglic already proved to be in good form last Thursday when he won the third stage. Today, he rode a well-balanced time trial and clocked the fastest time at the intermediate check, which Valverde, Contador and Izaguirre later beat. The 27-year-old former ski jumper, however, put in a strong second half and took the win.

"It was a difficult time trial, but everything went as I wanted," Roglic said. "I won twice this week and I finished fifth in the standings. 

“Today, I left the big classification riders behind me in a time trial, and that feels good. I'm so happy, also for the team because they have supported me well all week. It feels good that I can repay them. Now I’ll focus my sights on the Tour de Romandie."

"When Alberto Contador was 33 seconds faster than Primoz at the first intermediate point, I thought he couldn’t win," Sports Director Grischa Niermann said. 

"Also Izaguirre and Valverde were faster. But in the second half, Primoz made his move. In that part of the course, as he often does, he made his move and edged out the difference with his big gear. With pure strength, he gained almost a minute on Contador. In these cases, you have to read and balance the trial well."

Team LottoNL-Jumbo struck again in the time trial after Victor Campenaerts’s time trial victory in the Ruta del Sol. The Dutch world team invested on the track and in the wind tunnel, with equipment, clothing and helmets to achieve victories like today’s. 

It was the third victory of the season for Roglic, who already won the Volta ao Algarve overall. It underlines his quick development under LottoNL-Jumbo’s watch. So convinced, the team prolonged Roglic’s contract another season through 2018.

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