Sensational Tadej Pogacar storms to Vuelta Stage 4 solo triumph
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Tadej Pogacar celebrates after winning Stage 4 of the Vuelta a Espana on Aug 25.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Tadej Pogacar won a solo victory on Vuelta Stage 4, attacking with over 50km to go and creating a two-minute lead to secure the win and strengthen his general classification lead.
- The race was delayed by a hailstorm on Stage 3, but Pogacar resumed control on a short mountainous 104.8km course with four climbs, dropping rivals including Felix Gall.
- Pogacar aims to become the fourth rider to win both the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same season, expressing confidence and recalling fond memories of his first Grand Tour stage win in Andorra in 2019.
AI generated
ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra - Cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar crushed his Vuelta a Espana rivals to clinch a sensational solo stage four victory on Aug 25 and open up a commanding general classification lead.
The Slovenian, aiming to complete a Grand Tour grand slam, attacked with just over 50km remaining in Andorra’s mountains, and crossed the finish line with the chasing pack languishing.
Jarno Widar and Felix Gall completed the day’s podium in second and third respectively, both coming in 2min 39sec behind Pogacar as they beat out four other riders in a sprint to the line.
“It’s super good because now I can be calm and confident for the next days,” said Pogacar.
“We just keep going day by day and focus on each day after this, because it will be a little bit less stressful for sure.”
Already wearing the red jersey after winning the individual time trial on the first stage, UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Pogacar’s bid to carve out a significant lead was foiled on Aug 24 by inclement weather.
Riders had to take shelter from a dangerous hailstorm in a roadside hotel in the Pyrenees and the third stage was abandoned.
So it was a day later than planned that five-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, hoping to become only the fourth rider to claim a Tour-Vuelta double in the same season, took full control.
Racing resumed on Aug 25 with a short but tricky 104.8km course in the mountains with four categorised climbs.
Decathlon led onto the day’s second climb, Collada de Beixalis, but Pogacar decided that was his moment to shine.
The 27-year-old, competing in the Vuelta for the first time since 2019, powered ahead, with Gall attempting to follow him.
Pogacar dropped the Austrian, who fell back to the chase group, and flew on ahead, creating a two minute gap.
“(I didn’t) want to be also isolated against all the GC riders because they would all play against me - I tried with an attack on the climb and I just hoped that I could survive until the finish line,” explained Pogacar.
“I saw that I could open the gap and I did it and it was pretty tough but a beautiful day out there.”
‘Beautiful memories’
The chase group expanded to nine riders, including Oscar Onley and Primoz Roglic, but Pogacar was three minutes ahead up the road at that point.
The unstoppable Slovenian pumped his fists then raised his arms aloft as he crossed the finish line.
Pogacar won his first stage at a Grand Tour in Andorra in 2019 at La Vuelta.
“I have such beautiful memories from the first time in Andorra,” added Pogacar.
“It was really beautiful and it’s one of my favourite moments of the career. So I will never forget that day.”
Widar and Gall edged out four-time Vuelta winner Roglic, Onley, Enric Mas and Sepp Kuss in a sprint to the line, after they had dropped Richard Carapaz and Mattias Skjelmose in the final stages.
The Aug 26 fifth stage five takes place in Spain, running 173.3km from Falset - south-west of Barcelona - to Roquetes, and offers the chance for a sprint finish. AFP
