Madrid -
Madrid welcomed on Sunday the two-time champion Primoz Roglic, the runner-up Richard Carapaz, and the rest of the cyclists in stage 18, the final stage of the Vuelta a España.
Defined on Saturday, the cycling tour had as its winner in the final route (139.6 km, flat) the German Pascal Ackermann. The Bora-Hansgrohe rider sprinted to victory at the finish line in Plaza de Cibeles, in the heart of the capital, and a photo-finish was necessary. The massive peloton (81 riders) registered a time of 3 hours 28 minutes 13 seconds.
The Irishman Sam Bennett (2nd) and the German Max Kanter (3rd) also gained bonuses on this stage, which was considered ceremonial.
La Locomotora del Carchi crossed the finish line in 32nd place, according to preliminary results. The Slovenian Roglic was 39th.
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"We just enjoyed ourselves. It was the last thing to do. It's beautiful to finish the season this way," declared the champion to the TV.
Roglic, who won four stages in this race shortened to three days due to the coronavirus pandemic, took the lead in the general classification by winning a decisive time trial last Tuesday. The Slovenian then snatched the leadership from Carapaz, with whom he has had an ongoing battle in this 75th edition of La Vuelta.
The final podium was completed by the British rider Hugh Carthy (EF), finishing in third place.
Jefferson Cepeda Hernández, the other Ecuadorian in the race, finished 92nd on Sunday, with a 36-second difference.
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