ARAMÓN VALDELINARES, Spain (AP) — Norwegian rider Andreas Leknessund won Stage 7 of the Vuelta a Espana spearheading a dominant performance by Uno-X Mobility team on Friday.
Leknessund conquered the grueling 150-kilometer (93-mile) mountain route in nearly four hours. Teammate Tobias Halland Johannessen was second 34 seconds back and Wout van Aert rounded out the podium, trailing by 47 seconds.
Despite dropping back in the final kilometers, overall leader Tadej Pogačar limited his time losses by driving the main chase group across the line.
Pogačar finished 19th, 4:23 behind Leknessund. That effort proved more than enough for the Tour de France champion — who is aiming to complete a historic Grand Tour sweep — to retain the red jersey.
Enric Mas of Movistar was second in the general classification, 3:50 off the lead, and Primož Roglič of Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe remained third.
Saturday’s eighth stage offers the sprinters a chance to shine along a flat 171-kilometer (106-mile) route from Puçol to Xeraco.
The three-week race concludes in Granada on Sept. 13.
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