Dunbar wins stage as Roglic all but seals Vuelta

Eddie Dunbar won stage 20 of the Vuelta a Espana as Primoz Roglic all but sealed overall victory.

Irishman Dunbar, riding for Team Jayco Alula, attacked with about 5km left to catch leader Pavel Sivakov on the final climb of this year’s race.

He caught the Frenchman with about 3km remaining, then dropped him to win the stage by seven seconds.

Movistar’s Enric Mas was second and Red Bull – Bora-Hansgrohe’s Roglic third – a further three seconds adrift – on the 172km stage from Villarcayo to Picon Blanco.

Slovenian Roglic finished four seconds ahead of Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale’s Ben O’Connor to stretch his lead in the general classification to two minutes two seconds.

“This one definitely feels a bit sweeter,” said Dunbar, who won stage 11.

“I felt good in that second part today. I just backed myself on that climb and paced myself really well.

“I knew this climb from a few years ago. I rode the steep parts pretty hard and the flat bits really conservatively to make sure I had enough left in the tank.”

“I’m super happy that I could hold on.”

Barring accident, Roglic is almost certain to confirm a fourth Vuelta triumph in Sunday’s final 24.6km time trial in Madrid.

1. Eddie Dunbar (Irl/Team Jayco Alula) 4hrs 38mins 37secs

2. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +7secs

3. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull – Bora-Hansgrohe) +10sec

4. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-EasyPost) +12 secs

5. Urko Berrade (Spa/Equipo Kern Pharma) +14

6. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) +14

7. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama – FDJ) +21

8. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal – Quick-Step) +23

9. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull – Bora-Hansgrohe) +37

10. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +37