Roglič makes Slovenian sporting history

The victory for the 29-year-old comes after a third place at the Giro d'Italia this year, another Grand Tour. He sat out the Tour de France to prepare for la Vuelta but also because he became father for the first time.

Roglič had seized control of the overall Vuelta standings by completely dominating the individual time-trial in stage 10 and then proved unbeatable in the decisive mountain stages, successfully fending off attacks by arch rival Nairo Quintana.

Even the group stage already made Roglič a standout among Slovenian cyclists, as he became the first ever Slovenian to win a stage at all three grand tours and only the 99th cyclist in the world to do so.

The quiet Slovenian, who prefers pushing pedals to talking, crossed the line arm in arm with his teammates, climbing the podium draped in his national flag.

"I don't have much to say," he...