Roglic struggles in rain as Evenepoel grabs Vuelta red

Belgium's young all-rounder Remco Evenepoel grabbed the leader's red jersey at La Vuelta in a dramatic conclusion to a rain-drenched sixth stage won by Australian Jay Vine.

The 22-year-old rider for the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team, left a group including reigning champion Primoz Roglic in his wake as he chased Vine up to the murky Pico Jano summit.

Evenepoel, long-tipped as a Grand Tour winner, put the hammer down through rain and fog and finished 15 seconds behind Vine (Alpecin–Deceuninck) who claimed his first career win.

Roglic, who took the red jersey on Tuesday but relinquished it on stage five, appeared to struggle on the final climb, the first category one ascent this year, and trailed home in a group of fellow GC contenders one minute and 37 seconds back.

Vine produced a stunning late solo, catching Ukraine's Mark Padun within 6.5km of the summit finish and powering through the mist to claim victory.

Evenepoel leads the standings by 21 seconds from Frenchman Rudy Molard whose hopes of keeping the red jersey were hampered by a mechanical before he got dropped.

Jumbo-Visma rider Roglic, bidding for a fourth successive Vuelta overall victory, is in fourth place overall, one minute and one second behind.

While he will not be panicking, losing ground to the dangerous Evenepoel was not in the script.

"I didnt's have the legs for the win so I just fought all the way to the finish," Slovenia's Roglic said.

"There is a still a long way and today we lost a bit but hopefully we can gain a bit later on.

"I see the other riders have got stronger but I didn't need any proof. Everything's fine and we go to the next stage."

Vine said winning the stage was a dream come true.

"It's unreal to be able to do that and to that from the GC group is