MADRID (AFP) - Carapaz, the Olympic gold medalist, won his second stage in three days after forming part of an early breakaway and clinging to his slim lead over the final meters as Roglic and another chaser came on strong.
The Ecuadorian rider for Ineos Grenadiers completed the grueling ride in southern Spain from Montoro to the category-one Sierra de la Pandera summit in just over four hours.
Miguel Lopez Angel and Roglic were just seconds behind. They chewed up what had been a four-minute gap but Carapaz just had enough.
However, three-time defending champion Roglic’s main goal was accomplished when the Jumbo Visma leader attacked on the final climb and watched as Evenepoel failed to keep pace.
Roglic slashed the gap to Evenepoel from 2 minutes, 41 seconds at the day’s start to 1 minute, 49 seconds with seven stages remaining. Enric Mas was third overall at 2:43 behind.
Evenepoel will wear the red leader’s jersey for an eighth consecutive day, but Roglic was finally able to do some damage to the Belgian and could try to press his momentum on back-to-back mountain stages.