News | Volta ao Algarve • February 22, 2019
Pogačar is fast in the time trial as well
Fifth place strengthens his lead in the GC
Twenty four hours after winning the uphill arrival on Alto de Foia and capturing the leader’s jersey in the Volta ao Algarve, Tadej Pogačar gave another outstanding performance in the time trial.
In the race against the clock held over a distance of 20.3 km in Lagoa, the rider from UAE Team Emirates stopped the dial at 24”50″, 17″ seconds more than the winner, Stefan Kung (FDJ): the impressive time trial test earned Pogačar 5th place in the stage and moved the young Slovenian further ahead of Spain’s Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quick Step), who is now trailing by 31″.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m very happy,” explained Tadej Pogačar“The result is a reward for the careful preparation that went into this trial, from studying the route and the specific directions from my sports directors over the radio. I gave it 100%, I made the best use of my energy and obtained this nice result.
Tomorrow and the day after I can count on my excellent team mates to defend the yellow jersey.”
Stage 3 results
1 Stefan Kung (FDJ) 24’33”
2 Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) 2″
3 Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 5″
5 Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 18″
General classification after stage 3
1 Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 10h16’14”
2 Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 31″
3 Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) 36″
