2021 Vuelta a Espana: Stage 11 Results

Primoz Roglic won Stage 11 of the 2021 Vuelta a Espana to claw back some of the time gap he suffered after yesterday’s late-in-the-stage crash.

The two-time defending champion rode past Magnus Cort Nielson (EF Education-Nippo) — who had stayed away in a day-long break until 100m to go — and took 3 seconds from Enric Mas (Movistar Team) in the closing meters.

“It was fair, again. The other day he [Mas] finished first and I second, I was a bit short. Today was a short stage but complicated, it was still very hot. It was a nice end, with big inclines, [and I] knew it was right for me,” Roglič said. “I suffered a lot, but by luck, it ends with a win for me. Enric Mas was also great [and] strong. But luckily, I had a little more juice on the end.”

Odd Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), no one’s guess at a race leader, spent the day maillot roja, with the eyes of the world on him. While he struggled during the stage, he managed to stick with the peloton to get another day in the lead.

“It feels like you can’t imagine — it feels really, really nice,” said Eiking. “It’s unbelievable to be the leader of such a big race as La Vuelta. For sure it’s one of the greatest moments of my career. It’s a responsibility, but it’s actually also just a bonus for us in the team.”

Late Attack for Roglic

Roglič attacked with teammate Sepp Kuss with 900m to go, and only Mas could match their move.

The trio caught Nielsen of the breakaway group with 300m to go, and Roglič put 3 seconds into Mas as the Spaniard tried to stick with the Slovenian’s late attack. He held on for second on the stage, and a six-second time bonus.

The stage-winner and the runner-up embraced after the finish line, still freewheeling on their bikes, while the stage stragglers caught up to them.

“It was a nice finish with a steep uphill where I can normally do well,” said the Slovenian. “It’s always nice to win, you never know when it’ll be your last one.”

2021 Vuelta a Espana: Stage 11 Brief Result

1. Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 3h11’00”
2. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) at 3″
3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar Team) at 5″
4. Jack Haig (Bahrain – Victorious) at 7″
5. Adam Yates (INEOS Grenadiers) s.t.

General Classification After Stage 11

1. Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux) at 41h48’57”
2. Guillaume Martin (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) at 58″
3. Primož Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 1’56”
4. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) at 2’31”
5. Miguel Ángel Lopez (Movistar Team) at 3’28”