UAE Team Emirates’ Pogačar Dominates Catalan Mountains Once More
Catalonia, The Gulf Observer: UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogačar showcased his cycling prowess as he dominated the queen stage of the Volta a Catalunya, securing a solo victory and claiming his fourth win of the season. Pogačar’s commanding performance not only solidified his position as a frontrunner but also bolstered his leadership in the general classification of the race.
Taking control of the race from the outset, UAE Team Emirates meticulously managed the first half of the stage. However, it was Pogačar’s strategic move at the 29-kilometer mark, with 2.6 kilometers remaining to the summit of the Collada de San Isidre, that proved decisive. Launching a daring attack, the Slovenian sensation swiftly established a significant lead, leaving his closest pursuers, Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick Step) and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), trailing behind by approximately 55 seconds.
Maintaining his advantage over the chasing duo throughout the final climb, Pogačar crossed the finish line with a commanding lead of 57 seconds over Bernal and Landa.
As the Volta a Catalunya 2024 heads towards its conclusion with the Barcelona-Barcelona stage, encompassing 145.3 kilometers and featuring six laps on the Alt de Montjuic, Pogačar’s dominance places him firmly atop the general classification, boasting a commanding lead of 3 minutes and 31 seconds over Landa.
Reflecting on his performance, Pogačar remarked, “It was a very hard stage. We controlled it from the start in a pretty good way, but on the long hors category climbs Visma-Lease a Bike tried to set a harder pace that heavily selected the group… The final climb was great, with such a lot of people cheering.”
Meanwhile, in Italy, the final stage of the Coppi e Bartali unfolded with a reduced sprint culminating in Jenno Berkmoes (Lotto Dstny) seizing victory over Lukas Nerurkar (Ef-EasyPost). Diego Ulissi of UAE Team Emirates, who demonstrated a strong presence throughout the race and claimed victory in stage 2, secured third place in the final general classification, finishing 10 seconds behind the winner Koen Bowman (Visma-Lease a Bike).
