‘It’s normal to have ups and downs’ – Primož Roglič follows Tour de France heartache with another Vuelta a España win

“Sí, se puede! Sí, se puede!” Yes, we can. Beyond the finish line on Madrid’s Gran Via, merry groups of Ecuadorian fans on either side of the street were running through their repertoire of chants and songs in support of Richard Carapaz, happily conducted by a filming television reporter.

After a hearty rendition of “Carapaz y nada más,” someone suggested singing the national anthem, but the songbook was torn up into a thunderous roar as their hero wheeled to a halt right in front of them, his Vuelta a España at an end.