Pogačar Climbs Into White Jersey at South Lake Tahoe

Tadej Pogačar continued his debut season as a World Tour rider in fine form, battling to fourth place following a brutal uphill sprint finish in South Lake Tahoe. Kasper Asgreen (Deuceuninck-Quick-Step) took the stage victory.

The 20-year-old Slovenian now moves up to fourth overall, sixteen seconds down on new ice leader Teejay Van Garderen (EF Education First) and moves into the white jersey for the best Young Rider.

The UAE Team Emirates duo of Pogačar and Cristian Muñoz were part of a 10 man break in the final 10 kilometers that fought it out for victory. Van Garderen(EF Education First) attacked the breakaway in the final kilometre with Pogačar finishing a further ten seconds back.

Pogačar: “I feel in good shape. It was a hard day with a lot of climbing and EF Education First really pushed the pace into the finale. When my teammate Muñoz got up the road on the last small climb I then managed to bridge across to the front and he helped me to gain as much time as possible. It was really good team work out there today.

In the last kilometre I just couldn’t follow Van Garderen’s move and I was just trying to get to the finish as fast possible.”

Stage 2 results:

1 Kasper Asgreen (DEN) Deceuninck-Quick Step  6:7:11

2 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First  s.t.

3 Gianni Moscon (ITA) Team Ineos  +4″

4 Tadej Pogačar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates  +10″

General Classification after stage 2:

1 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First  9:31:19

2 Gianni Moscon (ITA) Team Ineos  +6″

3 Kasper Asgreen (DEN) Deceuninck-Quick Step  +7″

4 Tadej Pogačar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates +16″