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
