Pogačar: Mission complete

Tadej Pogačar seals the overall in the Volta ao Algarve, surviving the last and difficult stage to Malhão.

After 173.5km, the stage ended with a three-kilometre climb. Pogačar led the race after winning stage two and finished it with a sixth in the final stage today, 18 seconds behind Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and 15 seconds from his most dangerous rival Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) – second in the overall.

Pogačar took the top podium spot (photo Bettini) with 14 seconds on Kragh Andersen and 21 on Wout Poels.

“I knew that it would be a difficult day, the stage was raced at high speeds and my direct rivals launched attacks for the overall,” said Pogačar “I had great support from all of my team-mates, who worked at the front to the group to give 100%. When the attacks started, I saw that I had fresh helpers at my side, this was a big morale boost in addition to a big concrete advantage. I’m proud of all of my team-mates.

I achieved a dream today. And to win a stage race so early in my professional career is hard to believe. I began without thinking of the overall, but after the crash in the first stage that ruled out the designated captains, I found myself at the front and the stage win gave me the yellow jersey. My team-mates’ support reinforced my belief and my place at the front“.

Stage 5 results:
1 Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 4h13’48”
2 Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) 3″
6 Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 18″

Final overall classification
1 Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 19h26’34”
2 Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) 14″
3 Wout Poels (Team Sky) 21″