Laspag Cycling Group

Pog extends his gap, Roglič climbs to 2nd and is back 🦅

Tadej Pogačar used a mountainous Stage 4 at La Vuelta to extend his gap to over three minutes, while other GC favourites flew up the overall ranking 💪🏼

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A 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 storm stops play at La Vuelta 😮

La Vuelta a España Stage 3 has been abandoned with 15km remaining due to sudden bad weather ⛈️

La Vuelta: "For the security of the riders, stage three has been cancelled due to hail and severe weather. There will be no winner and no podium ceremony."

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Julian Alaphilippe snakes across the road and skids his back wheel to a halt. He has just won the individual time trial at the 2019 Tour de France, and the people of Pau are in a frenzy. Not for 30 years have they seen a Frenchman win in the yellow jersey at the race. Alaphilippe, their golden prince, has not only kept hold of his overall lead – on a day he was meant to lose it – he’s grown it by 14 seconds.

The crowds cheer as if celebrating a cup final-winning goal. Alaphilippe springs out of his saddle and plants himself upright under the sun in the Place de Verdun. It looks for a moment as if he might bow. In the swell of excitement, and the outpouring of love around him, it feels as if he should. This is a once in a generation showman. The fans have witnessed a performance for the ages.

Seven years on, those same admirers might have fallen to their knees on hearing reports of Alaphilippe’s retirement on Thursday night. According to L’Équipe, the 34-year-old has decided to end his career with immediate effect. He still has a year left on his contract at Tudor Pro Cycling, but the news is that he has already crossed his last finish line.

In light of the reports, our senior writer Tom Davidson has penned an ode to cycling's great swashbuckler. Read it through the link in the comments.

(Photo: Getty Images)

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3☺️