News | Saudi Tour | Volta Valenciana • February 8, 2020
Pogačar takes stage and reclaims GC lead in Vuelta Valenciana
Young Slovenian wins his second stage on the week in Altea
Tadej Pogačar showed a great show of strength to win solo on stage 4 of the Vuelta Valenciana (2.1).
With the final 5km all at gradients above 10% it was a brutal test for the GC men. Pogačar with the support of his compatriot Jan Poland timed his moves to perfection, breaking clear with 3km to go and passing lone leader Greg Van Avermaet (CCC).
Pogačar now moves into the overall race lead heading into the short final stage 5 from Paterna to Valencia (97.7km) which should be a day for the sprinters.
Pogačar : “Today was a really hard day so we decided to work on the front near the end to get me in the perfect position approaching the climb. Jan made a really hard pull on the final climb and when he stopped I accelerated and went full gas until the end. I attacked on the steepest part of the climb as that’s where I was feeling good . It’s really something special and really satisfying after all the work done in the winter.”
Stage 4 Results
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 4h22’03’’
2. Wout Poels (Bahrain McLaren) +6’’
3. Tao Geoghegen Hart (Ineos) s.t.
General Classification after Stage 4
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 16h38’28’’
2. Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) +6’’
3. Tao Geoghegen Hart (Ineos) s.t.
Rui Costa seals podium spot in Saudi Tour
UAE Team Emirates finished the inaugural Saudi Tour (2.1) with a strong display, claiming a stage win and third place overall for Rui Costa.
The Portuguese rider proved to be in fine form during the week in Saudi Arabia and will head into the Volta Algarve as one of the favourites.
Costa: “ The whole team was amazing this week. In the end it became a race dominated by the sprinters but we made the most of it whenever we got a chance. To start the season like this is great for the confidence and to see the success of the team in Australia and now in Vuelta Valenciana we can be really happy with this start.”
Stage 5 results
1.Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain McLaren 3h18’57’’
2. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Team Arkea-Samsic s.t.
3. Arvid De Kleijn (Ned) Riwal Readynez s.t.
14. Ivo Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates s.t.
Final General Classification
1.Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain McLaren 17h53’38’’
2. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Team Arkea-Samsic +02’’
3. Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates +13’’
