When he pulled Jonas, it was quite painful
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-Xrg) is a surprising winner of the first stage of the cycling criterion by Dofine. In the sprint relatively vibrant stages between Domerat and Montlucon (195.8 km), he chased Danac Jonas Vingegaard and a Dutch Mathieu Van der Poela. We also followed the race live.
The route of the first of eight stages of the criterion by Dofine was a little vibrant, but no one expected such a sprint. The attack was actually staged by Vingegagaard (Visma-Lease A Bike) five kilometers before the finish line, and only took a selected rider family with him. Among them were Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceunck) and Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soududal Quick-Step), who did not have enough power in the sprint to keep Pogacar and Vingegaard behind.
Pogačar celebrated the eighth victory of the season, and already 96 in total. In his career and the first in the criterion according to Dofine, at which he performs for the second time (2020). In Monday’s stage, he will also wear a yellow T -shirt of the leader, in the sum he has four Bonification Seconds Back in front of Vingegaard and six in front of Van der Poel.
“I didn’t expect to sit here today”
“I didn’t expect to sit here today. I expected that I would quickly go to the team bus immediately after the stage to take a shower, replace myself and enjoy the end of the day. But I don’t have anything against it, « said the 26-year-old Pogacar.
Pogacar on stage for winners photo: Anne-Christine PUJOUort/AFP
“I just followed the attacks on the last slope, but it was clear that Visma cyclists attacked a stage victory, trying to attack everyone at the top. But luckily I had a good enough leg and covered everything. A little after the top, even Vingegaard was attacked on top of the cake, it was painful to follow, but fortunately it was mostly down the end. I restored my power a little, and about two kilometers to the end I thought more about the sprint than the general ranking, « added the Slovenian AS.
“I have a stage victory, so I could go home with criteria. But I have to see what will be a time for time, even now I can hardly say how good I am, as we have to get into the mountains. I surprised myself a little, but don’t worry the rest. Maybe I retire when my contract expires, « said Pogacar, who is otherwise binding by the contract with the Emirates until the end of 2030.
UAE Team Emirates Photo: Anne-Cristine Ponjoulat/AFP
The forecasts before the stage was provided by the sprint at least larger groups of cyclists, but they did not come true. The first favorite was Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), but especially the rhythm of the best on the last shorter slope was too strong for 24-year-old Italian.
In the stage, Pogacar first stretched his feet of just 40 km before the finish of crossing the short slope of Buffon (0.6 km/8.8 %), followed by an attack by the others at the last crossing seven kilometers before the finish. Throughout, the Slovenian was closely accompanied by Vingegaard, who attacked five kilometers before the end on the plane, and also took Pogacar, Van der Poela and Evenepoel with him. They had between five and ten seconds all the time, and to the last kilometer they brought a few seconds ahead of the larger group.
Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegagaard Photo: Anne-Cristine Ponjoulat/AFP
As this one was approaching, Van der Poel quickly opened the sprint, and Pogačar and Vingegaard, who lagged half a bicycle behind the Slovenes and proved that after March, when he last raced, he could compete with the first cyclist of the world. Some of the struggle between Emirates and the Visma team was already on the only flying goal, but he is a German Nils politt prevented the bonification second of American Jorgson, the second most prominent member of Vismma.
« Pogacar was faster and I have to congratulate him »
The first, Vingegaard, was a little surprised by the show. “I had a good day and I’m glad I was able to make the difference. It has been quite a while since the second place in the larger group sprint. The Pogacar was faster and I have to congratulate him. Of course, it is not ideal for me to lose four seconds against Pogacar, but I didn’t expect to win six of them, « Vingegaard said after the stage.
On Monday, there will be a second stage between Prasthat and Issoo (204.6 km). It is another vibrant stage. The latest categorized climb Nonette (1.8 km/5.7 %) will cross 18 km ahead of the target.
