The Slovenian took advantage of an attack by Mikel Landa, who consolidates second place, to fly towards the goal
BARCELONA, 20 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won this Wednesday the third stage of the Volta a Catalunya, held between Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Port Ainé over 176.7 kilometers, arriving alone after taking advantage of an attack by Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) to open a gap and, with this second incontestable victory, practically put an end to the Catalan round.
The story of Tuesday was repeated in Vallter 2000. Tadej Pogacar won unleashed, without a rival, and the best of the mortals, of the terrestrials, was Mikel Landa who, with his bravery, castled in second place in the provisional general classification.
There is still Volta but Tadej Pogacar is determined to have her seen for sentencing as soon as possible. The two grand finals on high already bear his name. And, with the exhibition in Vallter in the rain and this very fast climb to Port Ainé, also snowy but with better weather, there is little room for surprise if it does not sink in future stages.
After these two high mountain stages, Pogacar has a 2:27 minute margin over Mikel Landa and 2:55 over Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe), with Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) fourth at 3:21 and the Australian Chris Harper (Jayco AlUla) fifth at 3:22. Much difference at this point.
In Port Ainé, Pogacar turned around the Volta almost without looking for it. When there were about 7.5 kilometers left to go to the top, it was Mikel Landa who, after putting his teammates to work minutes before, attacked to go in search of the stage and reduce time in the general classification with Pogacar.
But the Slovenian came out with astonishing ease at Landa’s wheel and, after taking the lead, he continued shooting without being an attack in itself and took out Landa, who had the necessary nerve not to get burned. He stayed a few meters away, holding on, and at the same time opening a gap with respect to the rest of his rivals, since no one could come after them.
The climb to Port Ainé, a ski resort crowned at 1,967 meters, with 18.4 kilometers of ascent at 6.7 percent average slope and several sections above 8, is a lot and American Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), with 6.8 kilometers to go, did jump out of the group of favorites and ended up reaching Landa.
They were joined later, already within the last 4 kilometers, by the Australian Harper, but they were unable to cut any time with a Pogacar that, in its own way and as a time trial, was getting closer to glory. And, with 3 to go, Landa pushed again and was once again left alone in that impossible fight with Pogacar.
The hardness of the last kilometers, already at a high altitude, went a long way. Landa held on even though it seemed that the arrival of Kuss or the pace set later by Enric Mas (Movistar Team) could worry him. But no, the Basque held on and Mas, who managed to ride third alone, finally entered the finish line tenth, closing the ‘group’ 1:10 behind Pogacar, with Kuss giving up 1:03 and Landa 48 seconds behind the Slovenian.
“It wasn’t easy. A tough climb due to the lack of oxygen at the top, which makes it very hard. But it was a very good stage for me and the team. Landa attacked first, I went with him and opened a gap. He had a good pace, Yes, in the last 2 kilometers they were hard but I made a good difference,” Pogacar commented to the race media at the finish line.
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage.
1. Tadej Pogacar (SVN/UAE Team Emirates) 4:34:25.
2. MIKEL LANDA (ESP/Soudal Quick-Step) a 48.
3. Antonio Tiberi (ITA/Bahrain-Victorious) 1:03.
4. Wout Poels (NED/Bahrain-Victorious) m.t.
5. Sepp Kuss (USA/Team Visma | Lease a Bike) m.t.
…//…
7. CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ (ESP/Arkéa-B&B Hotels) 1:10.
10. ENRIC MAS (ESP/MOVISTAR TEAM) mt
-General.
1. Tadej Pogacar (SVN/UAE Team Emirates) 13:38:12.
2. MIKEL LANDA (ESP/Soudal Quick-Step) a 2:27.
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) 2:55.
4. Lenny Martinez (FRA/Groupama-FDJ) 3:21.
5. Chris Harper (AUS/Team Jayco AlUla) 3:22