2024-03-23 23:55:00
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) ran solo for 29.2km on the penultimate mountain. He took his third stage win in the sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya and took the overall victory by a wide margin.
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) entered the final day in first place overall photo: CorVos
The Volta a Catalunya was a heated race for two days in a row, and now it was time for the mountain stage to finish at the top of the mountain. The 154.7km course crosses 3rd and 2nd class mountains in the first half, and the super-class mountain Col des Pradels (distance 15.1km/average 6.5%) appears in the middle. After that, following a long descent, we headed up the first class mountain Colada de San Isidore (distance 5km/average 8.4%), and finally up the first class mountain Queralt (distance 5.9km/average 7%).
This day was supposed to be the queen stage (the most difficult stage) with a total elevation difference of 4,000m, but Hugh Carthy (EF Education Easy Post, UK) and Bauke Mollema (Liddle, Netherlands), who fell behind in the overall standings from the beginning,・Trek) runs away. These two riders crossed the first 3rd and 2nd class mountains in the lead, but were absorbed before the super-class mountain Col des Pradels.
Visma Liesabike setting the pace for the peloton in the mountains photo: CorVos
It was not the leader team UAE Team Emirates that set the pace for the peloton on the super mountain, but Visma Rees-Avaig, who was aiming to jump up from Sepp Kuss (USA) who was 7th overall (3 minutes 31 seconds behind). Esteban Chavez (Colombia, EF Education Easy Post) jumped out of the group, which was lagging behind not only those who were not good at climbing, but even the most talented climbers, 5km before the summit.
However, Chavez’s move to win the section lasted less than 1km before UAE, who was in the lead, caught him. Behind them, Simon Yates (UK), who was focusing on assisting Chris Harper (Australia, Jayco AlUla), fell behind, and Kuss also fell off on the steep section just before the summit due to UAE’s high pace.
UAE Team Emirates’ high-speed traction narrows down the group photo: ASO
Cep Kuss is delayed on the super mountain Col des Pradels (Visma Liesabike, USA) photo: CorVos
By the time they passed the top of Col de Pradel, 12 people remained in the group, including Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) and Mikel Landa (Spain, Soudal Quick-Step), who had two assisters. However, on the downhill and flat road leading to the next Class 1 mountain, the Pogacar group was joined by a chasing group. Then we enter the Class 1 mountain Colada de San Isidor (distance 5km/average 8.4%), where Iván Sosa (Colombia, Movistar) demonstrates high-speed towing for Enric Mas (Spain).
The competitors who once caught up with this speed increase fell behind, and Pogačar made his move with 3km remaining from the narrowed group to the summit and 29.2km remaining from the finish. Landa, Tiberi, and Mas were attacked by this, but Pogačar, who remained seated and accelerated once more, took the lead alone. Pogačar then passed the top of the Colada de San Isidor and comfortably extended his lead over the others on the descent.
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates), who overcame Landa and others to take the lead alone on the penultimate mountain. photo: CorVos
In the group chasing him with a 55 second difference, Egan Bernal (Colombia, Ineos Grenadiers) jumped out and took off in pursuit alone. Landa caught up with him, and the two raced through rotations as they entered the final stage of the first class mountain, Keralt (distance 5.9km/average 7%), with a difference of 1 minute and 9 seconds behind Pogačar.
Even as he entered the final climb to the top of the mountain at an altitude of 1,150m, Pogačar’s high pace remained unchanged and he reached the finish line. He won all three mountaintop finishes in this tournament, and further expanded his lead in the overall lead.
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) who won his third victory in the section photo: CorVos
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) took the overall victory by a large margin photo: CorVos
“It was a very tough stage. We controlled the development as a team and had Almeida and Soler by our side[on the penultimate mountain]. Then we attacked and the final mountain was great with a big crowd. ” said Pogačar, who was close to winning the overall race with his third sectional win.
Bernal, who came 57 seconds behind Landa, won the match sprint and finished second in the section. As a result, Landa maintained his 2nd place overall, while Bernal moved up from 9th to 3rd overall.
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