Primož Roglič almost had victory within his grasp on Stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya, finishing second in a photo finish sprint to the summit at La Molina. The Slovenian launched his sprint early, but was narrowly edged out in the final meters by Juan Ayuso, who claimed the stage win by the smallest of margins.
The 218.6-kilometre stage, featuring a gruelling 4,700 meters of altitude gain, culminated in a tense battle between the general classification contenders. Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe played their part in controlling the pace on the final ascent, ensuring Primož was well-positioned for the decisive moments of the stage. As the last attackers were swept up inside the final 500 meters, Primož surged ahead with 200 meters remaining.
For a moment, it seemed he had done enough to take the win, yet Ayuso responded with a powerful acceleration on the inside, drawing level and just managing to inch ahead at the line. The finish was so close that it required a photo finish, with Primož settling for second on the line.
Despite the near miss, the result reinforced his form as he continues to build momentum in the race. He now moves to second place overall, at six seconds behind Ayuso in the general classification. With several decisive mountain stages still ahead, the squad remains focused on the upcoming stages.
At the finish line, Primož took the result in stride, reflecting on the stage as he waited for the result of the photo finish:
“How did it go? Well, we don’t know the result yet. But in the end, regardless of the result, whether I was first or second, I felt good. The guys were strong. There’s also a ski jump somewhere behind us, which is always nice. For sure there are so many very strong riders. So it wasn’t easy and was never going to be easy, but it’s going well.”
Photos: Getty Sport