Ex-ski jumper at cycling summit

At the 74th Vuelta on Sunday, the 29-year-old former ski jumper was - traditionally - no longer attacked on the way to Madrid and thus defended his red jersey. Completing the overall podium are Spanish world champion Alejandro Valverde and Roglic's compatriot Tadej Pogacar.

The 21st stage from Fuenlabrada to Madrid over 105,6 kilometers was won by Fabio Jakobsen from the Netherlands on Sunday evening.

From ski jumper to professional cyclist Arm in arm with his teammates, Primoz Roglic enjoyed the final journey to Madrid and with it the greatest triumph of his cycling career. With his overall victory in the 74th Tour of Spain, the former ski jumper has joined the big leagues and has crowned his change of sport from the ski jump to the bike. “I prepared as best as I could for this Vuelta. It's been a tough 3 weeks and I'm glad it's coming to an end," said a visibly relieved Roglic.

The path of the quiet and reserved Slovenian could hardly have been more spectacular. From the age of eight, Roglic practiced on the ski jump, and there was not much in the way of a successful career as a ski jumper. But a serious fall in 2011 caused him to change lanes prematurely, Roglic became a professional cyclist and quickly celebrated his successes here too. Today, the only thing that reminds us of the ski jumper is the telemark on the winner's podium - and the mountains that he now climbs instead of flying down. “Five years ago this was unimaginable,” he says about his career.

The ease with which all-rounder Roglic dealt with all the setbacks particularly impressed the competition. Even a mass crash on the 19th stage, in which Roglic was involved and which left teammate Tony Martin with a bloodied face, could not stop the Slovenian. He has not given up the red jersey that he presented so proudly on the way to Madrid since his superior success in the individual time trial almost two weeks ago.

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Ex-ski jumper at cycling summit

The Slovenian Primoz Roglic from the Jumbo-Visma team won the Tour of Spain for professional cyclists for the first time. The Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen won the last stage.

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