Roglic overcomes crash to keep Spanish Vuelta lead

TOLEDO, Spain (AP) — Primoz Roglic was involved in a crash but recovered to finish safely in the peloton on Friday, keeping his lead entering the final competitive stage of the Spanish Vuelta.

Rémi Cavagna made a strong solo charge to win the 19th stage in Toledo, a mostly flat ride of 165.2 kilometers (102.6 miles). The French rider from team Deceuninck-Quick Step broke away with about 25 kilometers to go and finished five seconds ahead of the pack for his first Grand Tour stage victory.

Roglic was caught in a crash with about 65 kilometers to go and had to push hard to make his way back to the peloton. Several of Roglic’s Jumbo-Visma teammates also were involved in the crash, along with Colombian Miguel Ángel López of Astana Pro Team. Alejandro Valverde and his Movistar teammates were criticized after appearing to launch an attack following the incident but eventually reduced the pace as the riders involved in the crash rejoined.

Roglic will take a lead of nearly three minutes over Valverde into Saturday’s decisive 20th stage, a 190.4-kilometer (118.3-mile) ride with five mountain passes, including a Category 1 climb in Puerto de Peña Negra.

The three-week race ends Sunday in Madrid.