Pogačar defends race lead at Tirreno-Adriatico

Tadej Pogačar approaches the queen stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico as race leader.
The UAE Team Emirates captain boasts a 9 “advantage over his closest rival Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) after the 5th stage, the 155km Sefro-Fermo ending with a jagged circuit finish.

 
Success on the day went to Warren Barguil (Team Arkéa Samsic), who proved to be the strongest of the 12 cyclists who created the main breakaway of the race.
Pogačar, after UAE Team Emirates had controlled the group during the stage, followed an Evenepoel attack, with Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) quick to join the duo.

 
The three riders took the wrong road at a curve and thus saw their attack neutralised.

The Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates, quickly found his way and crossed the finish line in 6th position (+28 “from the winner), closely followed by Vingegaard and Evenepoel. Tomorrow the 6th stage, from Apecchio-Carpegna of 215 km with the double passage on Monte Carpegna (6.2 km at an average gradient of 9.6%) will define the general classification.

 
Pogačar: “There were three of us in the chasing group, but we took the wrong way at a right turn: it was not easy to see the signs of the right direction, it can happen in a race. At that point, it was too difficult to catch the leaders.
Without that accident, the race could have ended differently, but today’s goal was to keep the leader’s jersey and we did it, also thanks to a good team effort to control a breakaway in which strong riders were pedaling. We are happy to still be in the lead in going to tackle the queen stage tomorrow. ”

 
Stage 5 results

1. Warren Barguil (Arkéa Samsic) 3h39’53 ”
2. Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Fenix) +10 ”
3. Simone Velasco (Astana) +14 ”
6. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +28 “

 
General classification after the 5th stage

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 18h17’08 “
2. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +9 ”
3. Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) +43 “