Vuelta a España 2024 stage 16 preview - Primož Roglič aims for repeat 'reconquest' of race lead at Lagos de Covadonga

Primoz Roglic at the Vuelta a España
Primoz Roglic at the Vuelta a España (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nestling at the foot of the Lagos de Covadonga climb there’s an important pilgrimage site and basilica church, built in commemoration of the battle fought there in 718 AD that is viewed as the starting point of the centuries-long military Reconquista [reconquest] of Spain.

Fast forward to the 2024 Vuelta a España and Primož Roglič is hoping the same summit finish deep in the northerly Picos de Europa mountain chain will also play host on Tuesday to a very different kind of reconquista: that of the leader’s red jersey, lost by Roglič on stage 6 to Australian Ben O’Connor and which the Slovenian has been chasing down ever since.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.

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