Slovenian cycling star Primož Roglič has won the Volta a Catalunya after fending off attacks by Remco Evenepoel of Belgium in the circular final stage around Barcelona on 26 March.

Roglič, 33, entered the final stage with a ten-second lead on Evenepoel that he built up on Friday and kept pace with the younger competitor, who attacked several times but did not manage to shake off the race leader.

The pair were neck-and-neck after breaking off from the peloton before the final two climbs on Montjuic. Evenepoel, the sprint world champion, won the stage with a final sprint performance, Roglič settled for the overall race win with a six-second gap.

"The Volta was something that I was definitely missing. Just being a part of the history at one of the oldest races and I'm definitely honoured and pleased to be one of the winners. A big thanks to the team around me and all of the guys," Roglič said after the race.

"The team again was great, keeping me in position and I had the legs so it's a great week behind us and we can celebrate."

Evenepoel described Roglič as "one of the strongest riders in the world. He's in a really good shape, and when he's in top shape he's maybe the best rider in the world. I knew if there was one guy who would follow me it was him."

This was the sixth race win in Spain for Roglič, who won La Vuelta de Espana three consecutive years between 2019 and 2021 and the Tour of the Basque Country in 2018 and 2021.

Roglic lost out to Evenepoel at the Vuelta last season and the Catalan race has been billed by cycling media as a warm up for their big showdown at the Giro d'Italia in May.