Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG cyclist Tadej Pogacar seized a third title on his home tour when he won his second mountain stage on the final day of the UAE Tour atop the Jebel Hafeet Mountain on Sunday.
The Slovenian, 26, has now swept all before him in 2024 taking a rare Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and world championships triple, and the UAE Tour in his first outing on 2025.
Pogacar attacked early with the final eight kilometres to go and culminating in a climb to finish 33 seconds ahead on the general classification tally. “It was a crosswinds so it was good to make some chaos in the group,” Pogacar said. “For us GC [general classification] riders we had to be careful and always be attentive.
“Somehow it worked, at first I didn’t believe it would be cooperative but it went to the finish, so for me it was a really good day. For me, it was ideal. I attacked with 7.8km to go because that’s when Rune [Herregodts] pulled off his effort. The guys did a great job for me and I decided to try and go solo, I didn’t want to be surprised or counterattacked or anything,” he added.
Once out front on his own, Pogacar would not be caught and simply extended his advantage to the line. With enough time to offer up high-fives to the fans in attendance, Pogacar could celebrate his victory at the finish and punch the air as the now three-time UAE Tour champion (2021, 2022 and 2024).
The stage victory is the Slovenian’s sixth at this race in his career, with the day’s win being his third on top of Jebel Hafeet. By wrapping up the GC in style, Pogacar brings UAE Team Emirates-XRG their first title at the race since 2022.
Italian climber Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek was second on the stage and second overall at 1 minute, 14 seconds, with Spanish rider Pello Bilbao of Bahrain coming third overall.
Pogacar dominated the week-long race after coming third in Tuesday’s time trial and then winning the first of two mountain stages on Wednesday.
Pogacar picked up his 90th win for the team and was already looking ahead to his busy spring one-day classics campaign. “Now I won’t take part in any stage race until June so I will switch my mind to one-day classics and I hope to do well there,” he said.
Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan, also of Lidl-Trek, laid down a season marker in the stages that ended with bunch finishes with two wins and the overall points jersey ahead of Belgian Quick Step rider Tim Merlier.
Joshua Tarling of Ineos had led the young rider standings since winning the stage two time trial but dropped down to 10th on Sunday with Movistar’s Ivan Romeo, 23, taking the white jersey.
