Primoz Roglic has celebrated a successful day in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. By winning the time trial in the fourth stage, the 28-year-old rider of Team LottoNL-Jumbo has taken the lead in the general classification. The Slovenian is now more than half a minute ahead of the number two in the general classification, Julian Alaphilippe.

The stage win meant the ninth victory for Team LottoNL-Jumbo this year, the first at the Bianchi Aquila. For Roglic it was his second victory of the season. Earlier this year he won the third stage in Tirreno-Adriatico.

According to Roglic, it wasn’t easy today. “I knew that all eyes were on me as a pursuer in the gc and as time trial specialist. That provided extra pressure. It was a flat time trial, but there was a lot of wind. At the finish I saw that I had the fastest time, which made me very happy of course.”

By taking the lead in the general classification, Roglic, who finished second twice this week, is also one of the top favourites for the overall victory. “But we should not get ahead of ourselves. At the beginning of the course I already said that I want to take it one day at a time. It’s not going to be easy, but I'm really looking forward to the last stages.”