Primoz Roglic in red at La Vuelta after Stage 4 success – but likely to loan out jersey before long

Death, taxes, and Primoz Roglic winning the Vuelta after Tour or Giro heartbreak: in this world, some things are certain. With La Vuelta hitting Spanish soil for the first time this year on Tuesday, it was very much a case of deja-vu at the business end of Stage 4 from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia, a lumpy ride through the Basque Country with over 2,000m of climbing. Ad Punchy uphill sprints have become synonymous with Roglic in Spain as they were in bygone days with Philippe Gilbert and Alejandro Valverde.

One of those riders, the 42-year-old Spaniard, was on the front of the reduced peloton leading out his Movistar team-mate Enric Mas at the start of the 800m ramp to the line at Laguardia. Vuelta a EspañaRoglic takes control of Vuelta – but team-mate was not happy about it…5 HOURS AGO Mas, who has certainly not made a habit of winning these kinds of Vuelta stages – or any types in the last four years, to be fair – ended up a distant third behind Mads Pedersen and Roglic, the Danish powerhouse impressing once again to his third successive bridesmaid finish. Eat your heart out, Wout van Aert – although it would take something special for the Trek rider to end his run with a win on Wednesday in the same manner as the Belgian did during the Tour to end his similar sequence.

Roglic has made something of a speciality out of winning the Vuelta after Tour de France or Giro d’Italia disappointment. The 32-year-old has an unsurpassed ability to recalibrate and remould his season, often doing so while having to recondition his body following serious injury and boost his morale after mental setbacks. “I don’t know if anyone else can do that – apart from Primoz Roglic,” Dan Lloyd said on The Breakaway.