Pogacar Claims Stage Six Victory After Dramatic Chase with Mas Tadej Pogacar secured his third stage win at the Vuelta a Espana after a tense battle with Enric Mas on stage six. The Slovenian rider, already a dominant force in the race, faced a challenge from the Movistar cyclist on the final climb, where Mas overtook him in a dramatic final meters sprint. Pogacar’s victory extended his lead in the general classification to three minutes and 34 seconds, with Mas moving into second place. The stage began with Pogacar taking an early advantage on the final ascent, creating a significant gap over the chasing pack. However, Mas, known for his climbing skills, launched a decisive attack in the final meters of the climb, reeling in the defending world champion and overtaking him. Mas initially led the descent, signaling to Pogacar to proceed cautiously. Pogacar, however, chose to take the inside line at a critical corner, briefly regaining the lead before misjudging the next turn and veering into the gravel. His exceptional bike-handling skills prevented a crash, allowing him to rejoin the peloton. The two riders then worked together to distance the chasers, with Pogacar’s superior sprinting strength ultimately securing the stage win. Pogacar’s victory solidified his position at the top of the general classification, increasing his lead over Mas to three minutes and 34 seconds. Mas, meanwhile, climbed to second overall, surpassing four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic, who finished 46 seconds behind in a group with Ramses Debruyne, Richard Carapaz, and Felix Gall. The result marked a significant moment for Mas, who now sits just 34 seconds behind Pogacar in the standings.#tadej_pogacar #vuelta_a_espana #movistar #enric_mas #josh_tarling
Tadej Pogačar Fumes After Officials Deny Water Bottle Late in Scorching Vuelta a España Finale Tadej Pogačar expressed frustration after Vuelta a España officials denied him a water bottle during the final 15 kilometers of a stage marked by extreme heat. The Slovenian cyclist, who had held the race leader’s red jersey, claimed the decision to end the feed zone 20 kilometers before the finish line left him without hydration during a critical moment. Pogačar survived a perilous descent off the Puerto El Bartolo climb and narrowly beat Enric Mas in a two-up sprint, but the incident left him visibly upset. Pogačar said he asked for a water bottle when the race entered the final 15 kilometers, but there was no response from the commissar or organization car. “I was a bit disappointed because we’re racing in such heat, and if you don’t have a bottle in the last 15-20 minutes, it’s a big pain in the ass,” he said. Temperatures reached 34°C (93°F), with high humidity and gusting winds creating challenging conditions for the peloton. The UCI race jury confirmed earlier in the week that the feed zone would end 20 kilometers before the finish line, effectively shutting down access to water and energy supplies for the riders as they approached the final climb. Pogačar had consumed a final bottle of water near the base of the climb before tackling the steep gravel ascent. During the final climb, Pogačar was unaware of Enric Mas’s proximity, as he had been focused on the descent and the finish line. “I really didn’t know that Mas was there because I heard a group of favorites was 40 then 50 seconds behind,” he explained. “I was just thinking, OK, I need to come to the finish of this climb.” Mas’s sudden surge came with “triple speed” as he approached the summit, catching Pogačar off guard.#tadej_pogaar #enric_mas #vuelta_a_espaa #uea_emirates_xrg #puerto_el_bartolo
Tadej Pogacar battles back from scare on descent to win stage six of Vuelta a España Tadej Pogacar claimed victory in stage six of the Vuelta a España on Thursday, securing his third stage win of the race. The Slovenian rider outpaced Enric Mas in a tense finish to the stage, extending his lead in the general classification. Pogacar, the five-time Tour de France winner and favorite for the Vuelta, faced a critical moment on the final descent when he came off the road after misjudging a corner on the gravel section of the Puerto El Bartolo climb. Despite the incident, he swiftly recovered to maintain his position and hold off Mas, who briefly took the lead before Pogacar retook control. The stage’s final climb, Puerto El Bartolo, saw a breakaway of 15 riders establish a two-and-a-half minute gap on the peloton with 40km remaining. The gravel road section of the climb intensified the competition, with Pogacar launching an attack to distance himself from the chasing group. Mas, the four-time Vuelta winner, responded aggressively, charging past Pogacar to take the lead on the climb. However, Pogacar’s recovery from the crash on the descent allowed him to rejoin the race and ultimately outlast Mas at the finish line in Castellón de la Plana. Ramses Debruyne finished third on the podium, 46 seconds behind the leaders. The podium included Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz, and Felix Gall, all of whom were part of the chasing group during the final climb. Pogacar now leads Mas by 3 minutes 34 seconds and Roglic by 4 minutes 21 seconds in the overall standings. The stage also saw a significant setback for Oscar Onley, who lost over a minute and a half to his general classification rivals. Earlier in the day, Britain’s Josh Tarling abandoned the race with around 120km of the stage remaining.#tadej_pogacar #netcompany_ineos #vuelta_a_espana #primoz_roglig #enric_mas
